Pregnancy and Vision

When you become pregnant, you probably know you’ll experience all kinds of bodily changes in places like your ankles, abdomen, and hair. But did you know pregnancy also affects your eyes? Let’s talk about pregnancy and vision.

How is vision affected by pregnancy?

As with all parts of your body, the health of your eyes is impacted by things like your blood circulation and hormones. Water retention, blood pressure, and hormone changes caused by pregnancy inevitably impact your vision. As an expectant mother, you may experience temporary changes such as:

• Blurry vision
• Dry eye
• Eye irritation
• Puffy eyelids
• Nearsightedness

What are dangerous vision issues caused by pregnancy?

Minor vision changes like the ones listed above are normal and will subside after you give birth or once you wean your baby from breastfeeding. However, some vision issues during pregnancy could be indicative of a serious issue such as:

• Preeclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure)
• Diabetic retinopathy (a condition associated with diabetes which can lead to blindness)
• Papilledema (optic nerve swelling which can lead to vision loss)

When should I become concerned about pregnancy-related vision problems?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends expectant women get a comprehensive eye exam if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• Blurry vision for an extended period of time
• Double vision or vision loss
• New “floaters” in your vision, such as floating specks, dots, or lines
• Flashing lights
• Increased light sensitivity

You should also notify your ophthalmologist if you:

• Are being treated for glaucoma — Many glaucoma medications can be harmful to your baby.
• Suffer from migraines which lead to light sensitivity — Migraine medication can also be harmful to your baby.
• If you have become diabetic before or during your pregnancy — Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness.
• Have high blood pressure before or during your pregnancy — This could lead to preeclampsia.