Blurry Vision during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most turbulent times in the life of a woman. There are changes occurring in almost all parts of the body, and you are sure to experience changes both physically and emotionally at this time. With so many changes occurring during pregnancy, there are sure to be some problems too.

Blurry vision during pregnancy is a common condition which affects a few expecting mothers. This is owing to a lot of changes in the body and will affect the mother around 20 weeks into her pregnancy. In this article, let us take a look at what blurry vision during pregnancy means and how it can be managed effectively.

What is Blurred Vision in Pregnancy?

Blurred vision during pregnancy is said to occur when the woman experiences a deterioration in her capability to see, during the pregnancy. This may simply make the images she sees less sharp or can lead to difficulties owing to the blurred vision. The extent to which this can affect the woman differs according to the person. It may affect the pregnant woman at any time during the pregnancy, sometimes even weeks before you find out that you are pregnant. In most cases, it gets worse as the day of delivery approaches, and it may be accompanied by itchiness, infection or other problems. In any case, blurry vision is characterised by a reduction in the seeing capabilities of the mother.

When does Blurry Vision begin during Pregnancy?

There is no specific time as to when exactly this starts to manifest in the pregnant woman. It may start as early as a couple of weeks after fertilization occurs, even before you realise that you are pregnant. In most cases, the problem has started to affect the woman around halfway through her pregnancy. It may worsen as the time passes, becoming infected, and you might also have an itchy feeling around your eye. Women say that the blurry vision progresses up to the day of delivery, after which it gets better and normal quickly.

Causes of Blurry Vision during Pregnancy

There are many reasons as to why blurry vision occurs in pregnant women; some of these are given below.

1. Reduced Tear Production

During pregnancy, a lot of hormones are released into the bloodstream of the mother. This affects all parts of the body, including the eyes. The hormones result in a reduction of tear production, which leads to dryness in the eyes. This causes irritation and discomfort during pregnancy.

2. Eye Pressure

You might have noticed that there is fluid build-up in your ankles and your feet, during pregnancy. Similarly, fluid can build up in the eye and cause an increase in eye pressure at this time. This means that the curvature of the eye is affected, and your vision starts to get a little blurred. The thickness of the cornea also changes, resulting in more sensitive and itchy eyes.

3. Immune System

The focus of all your body parts during pregnancy is on the growing body- including the immune system. This means that your body works hard to protect the growing embryo, and results in a lowered immune system for the mother. Therefore, she becomes increasingly susceptible to pink eye and similar infections.

4. Poor Peripheral Vision

You might also be going through a reduction in peripheral vision, during pregnancy.

5. Coloured Eyelids

Melasma, a type of pigmentation which builds up around the eye during pregnancy can also cause itchiness at the time.

Signs and Symptoms of Blurred Vision

• Eye irritation
• Discomfort
• Dryness in the eyes
• Changes in Vision
• Floaters
• Spots
• Double vision

These are a few symptoms of blurry vision during pregnancy.

How to Treat Blurry Vision in Pregnancy?

Vision problems during pregnancy are common in mothers, so your doctor will most likely not treat your eyes until long after you give birth. If the vision changes during pregnancy are present even after two months post-delivery, corrective surgery might be prescribed after extensive diagnosis.

Tips to Cope with Blurry Eyesight in Pregnancy

There are a few things that you can do during pregnancy to improve your condition.

• Lubricating eye drops can reduce the dryness in your eyes, and make you feel less itchy or irritated. However, you have to check with your doctor to ensure that the drops are pregnancy-safe, before using them on yourself.
• Do not strain your eyes in any way during pregnancy. If you use contact lenses, you can switch over to glasses at least until the baby is born. Give your eyes enough rest, and make sure to read in places where there is adequate light.
• You do not have to buy new medicine or glasses in a hurry during pregnancy, considering how much your eyes have changed. In most cases, your eyesight will return to normal after you have given birth.
• Do not rush into surgery. Doctors will not allow you to undergo any surgery from around six months before pregnancy, to at least six months after you stop breastfeeding. This is because the surgery may not be successful because of the tendency of the body to over-correct at this time.

When can you Expect Blurred Vision to End?

Blurred vision during pregnancy third trimester reduces right after you give birth, and will be normal within six weeks of the delivery in most cases.

How to Prevent Blurred Vision during Pregnancy?

There are no methods to prevent this phenomenon, as it is a ‘side effect’ of pregnancy. This means that you will have to cope with it, and you can also do all that you can to make your condition better.

When to a Consult Doctor?

You should tell your doctor as soon as you get blurred vision, as he will need to check your blood pressure and sugar at the time. If the problem is accompanied by swelling, abdominal pain, headaches and a rapid weight gain, it may be an indication of preeclampsia- so tell your doctor immediately.

Blurred vision during pregnancy is common, and will mostly go away right after you give birth to your baby. However, if the condition is accompanied by other problems or stays for more than two months after delivery, you need to pay the doctor a visit as soon as possible.