As an expectant mother, your body undergoes many changes, and something you might be noticing includes new vision symptoms.
The hormonal and physical changes experienced during pregnancy might include blurred vision, dry eye, or possibly more severe changes to vision. Sometimes, this may be the first indication of a more serious issue like gestational diabetes.
Here are three vision conditions to keep an eye on while pregnant:
Blurred Vision
Pregnant individuals often experience slight vision changes. This can be due to minor changes in the structure and shape of your eye caused by fluid retention. Luckily, these changes are usually temporary and normalize after delivery.
Sometimes, the changes become permanent and a new prescription is needed from your optometrist. Waiting at least six months after giving birth to assess this is typically recommended to allow for stabilization post-pregnancy.
The base level of tear production required to keep the eyes moist can decrease due to hormone fluctuations during pregnancy. This may result in dry eye symptoms. Gritty, scratchy, or stinging sensations are all common dry eye symptoms.
If you are experiencing nagging dry eye symptoms, there are artificial tears, gel drops, and sometimes thicker ointments that your optometrist can prescribe to reduce dry eye discomfort.
Women with diabetes or gestational diabetes can have a higher risk of developing serious eye conditions during pregnancy. Be sure to pay attention to severe blurring, double vision, and symptoms of flashes or floaters.
Women with diabetes or gestational diabetes should see their doctor of optometry routinely to monitor for diabetic retinopathy.
Infants can have one of our doctors screen for ocular abnormalities as early as 6 months, with annual exams for children starting at 2 years old! You can make an appointment via email, text, phone, or in-person.
By Dr. Peter Chan, OD.
Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and answers to your frequently answered questions! In the meantime, if you haven’t had your eyes checked in a while, why not use our handy exam request form and make an appointment with one of our friendly optometrists?
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