Did you know that pregnancy can have an impact on your vision? The hormone changes in your body cause fluid retention, and this fluid buildup also occurs in the eyes. Any amount of change in the fluid in the eyes can lead to blurry vision, but the most common ways that it impacts the eyes are that the cornea changes in shape or thickness decreased tear production or dry eyes, and increased pressure in the eye.
Although it is primarily an average side effect of pregnancy, there are times that vision changes in pregnancy can be a sign of something more significant. Be sure to bring up any visual changes with your care provider to ensure that what you are experiencing is normal.
When Can This Happen?
Blurry vision can sometimes start in the early weeks of pregnancy and worsen as pregnancy goes on. Most individuals who experience blurred vision in pregnancy report returning to regular vision within the first few weeks postpartum. Suppose your blurry vision is causing you to be an unsafe driver or impacting your ability to go about your normal everyday life. In that case, you must do something to take care of it now, but otherwise, waiting to see if it corrects itself is a great option.
What Can You Do?
In some instances, some things can help with these symptoms. If you have blurred vision because of dryness, you can use eye drops as needed. Limiting screentime, reading in well-lit areas, wearing sunglasses, resting your eyes with naps, and performing eye exercises to strengthen them can help ease some of the discomforts of having blurred vision. Some providers will also provide supplements to help with the eyes, so discuss this with your care provider.
Is it Something More Concerning?
The instances when blurry vision or changes in vision can be symptoms of something more complicated are gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. For this reason, you must always disclose any visual changes to your care provider, as some cases of severe gestational diabetes and preeclampsia can cause blindness.
If your blurred vision is a symptom of one of these complications, some things can be done. For gestational diabetes, a change in diet, limiting sugars, and tracking your glucose levels are all great ways to help. In some instances, insulin could be necessary, but this is rare.
For preeclampsia, your care provider might recommend bed rest, blood pressure medications, and, in severe instances, induction of labor.
Knowing this information might make your vision feel scary, but remember that in most cases, blurry vision is a normal part of pregnancy.
Beyond Nine Months
Occasionally, an individual will continue to have blurry vision beyond nine months postpartum. If this is the case for you, it is a good idea to visit an optometrist to see if these changes are permanent and if you need a new prescription for contacts or glasses.
As you experience pregnancy, remember there is never too much information to give your care provider. From there, they will run the tests that need to be run and help provide information and recommendations for moving forward. Don’t forget that you are the professional of your body and your pregnancy. If something feels off, speak it and make sure that the person you communicate it to is genuinely listening to you.
