How Can Pregnancy Affect Your Vision?

Pregnancy brings with it changes to your body, some of which can result in temporary changes to vision. In today’s post, local eye care center Six One Six Vision Center shares a guide to how pregnancy can affect your vision.

Causes of Vision Changes During Pregnancy

Major changes happen to the body as it prepares to carry a child. Some of these changes affect the eyesight — fortunately, they are temporary.  The following are some of the most common causes:

• Hormonal changes. Hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy generally involve sudden increases in estrogen and progesterone. This prepares the body for key functions such as nutrient transfer for the baby and gradual increase of the uterus as the baby grows. They also prepare the body for later stages that help delivery and lactation. However, these hormonal changes also affect water retention, which causes swelling in the feet and joints. It also can result in blurry vision as well as dry eyes.
• Gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs in about 10% of pregnant women in the United States. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that cause a blood sugar imbalance, resulting in symptoms common in persons afflicted with diabetes. Among such symptoms is retinopathy, which affects the blood vessels in the retina.
• Pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and a high level of protein in the urine, and occurs in up to 8% of pregnancies. It causes temporary vision loss, flashing lights and blurry vision.

Treatment Options

While the vision changes discussed above typically go away on their own, don’t take chances and see an eye doctor as soon as you experience these symptoms. Some of them, like those associated with pre-eclampsia, can lead to eclampsia if left untreated. An eye doctor may recommend one or more of the following to treat vision changes during pregnancy:

• Eye drops to keep dry and irritated eyes moist.
• Increased intake of liquids and reducing sodium intake to counter water retention problems.
• Applying cold compress to puffy eyes.
• Monitoring blood sugar levels, especially if the patient is already a diabetic prior to pregnancy.
• Regular visits to the eye doctor to monitor the condition of the eyes.

If you are expecting and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with Six One Six Vision Center by calling us at (208) 514-1858 or filling out our contact form.