Expecting Change: How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Eyes
My concern for pregnant women grows day by day.
Minding them as I really mean felt for them.
The common discomforts of pregnancy include aches and pains, nausea, weight gain, and trouble sleeping. Most women expect these changes, but they are surprised to discover that pregnancy affects their vision as well.
Pregnancy can have a pronounced influence on your eye health. Some changes are benign, and they will go away after you deliver your baby. However, some vision changes are signs of more serious problems. Here are some common changes to expect, what they mean, and what you can do about them.
MOISTURE CHANGES
Dry eyes are normally caused by insufficient tear production from one the glands in your eye. Tears consist of three components: lipids (fats), mucus, and water. These three components work together to hydrate the eye while washing away particulates. When any of these components are lacking, the eyes become dry and irritated.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the production and composition of tears. Usually, the reduction in androgens, a type of hormone, is the root cause. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with dry eyes forever. Your hormones balance out after the birth of your baby, and your eyes will return to their usual moist state.
In the meantime, visit your eye doctor for artificial tears to help alleviate the symptoms of dryness. If you wear contacts, it might be best to switch to glasses during your pregnancy, since wearing contacts can make already dry eyes feel even worse. You can also try:
· Blinking more often. Sometimes when you stare at a screen for a long period of time, like during a movie, you blink infrequently. This can increase the severity of dry eye symptoms. Restrict your screen time when you can, and remind yourself to blink when enjoying a show or working at your desk.
· Putting a humidifier in your home or workplace. Dry air will evaporate tears from the surface of your eye more quickly. If you live in a dry environment, a humidifier will help increase your comfort.
· Wearing sunglasses or other eye protection when traveling through smoky, dusty, or polluted air. Your tears have to work harder to keep your eyes clean in dirtier air. If your tear production is reduced, your dry eye symptoms will flare up.
Cigarette smoke can also make dry eyes worse. Contact your doctor about quitting for your baby’s health as well as for the health of your eyes.
PRESSURE CHANGES
As your pregnancy progresses, your total blood volume increases. You also retain more fluids. Both of these increase the blood pressure in all your blood vessels, even the capillaries in your eyes. Most of the time, the extra pressure does not affect your eye health. But it can be a risk for women who:
· Have diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is affected by blood pressure, and it can progress more quickly with the increased pressure from pregnancy. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you are at risk for retinopathy, even though you are not normally diabetic.
· Develop preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Early symptoms include vision disturbances, like seeing spots, from dangerously high blood pressure. Vision disturbance should never be ignored when you are pregnant. Seek emergency medical care, as this condition is fatal if not treated.
· Have a preexisting eye condition like glaucoma. Increased blood pressure in the eye can increase the onset of symptoms of preexisting eye conditions. Left unchecked, this increased blood pressure can lead to vision loss.
Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience extreme changes in vision. If you have a pre-existing condition that affects your eyes, your optometrist should closely monitor your eye health during your pregnancy.
REFRACTIVE CHANGES
Some women who wear glasses or contacts experience changes in their prescription during pregnancy. Hormone levels can affect the shape and curve of your cornea, which results in blurriness or even partial vision loss. You may need to order new glasses to last during your pregnancy, or opt for contacts that are easily replaced with pairs of different strengths.
You should expect your vision to change again after delivery. Even though you may want to go get new glasses as soon as your baby is born, it’s usually better to wait a few months, because hormone levels can still be affected by breastfeeding. Even if you choose not to breastfeed, it still takes several weeks for postpartum hormones to fully balance out.
EXTERNAL CHANGES
Even if you have no dryness or vision changes, the exterior of your eyes can still be affected. Some women experience puffiness in the eyelids and facial tissue because of fluid retention. Depending on the severity of the swelling, it can affect your peripheral vision.
This is a temporary problem. Soothe puffy eyelids with warm or cool compresses and be sure to get rest when you can. Drinking plenty of water and reducing sodium can also help reduce fluid retention.
Visit us at All About Eyes for more information about pregnancy and eye health. Our team of optometrists can provide the care you need.
You can reach us easily via Oboloheritage@gmail.com
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