Being pregnant brings a lot of changes to your body. Some of the most noticeable ones are weight gain, nausea, and frequent urination. These are perfectly normal, despite how inconvenient they may be. However, there are also pregnancy warning signs you must look out for, including changes to your vision. Pregnant women may experience blurred vision and dry eyes due to issues with fluid retention and hormonal changes. Such eye conditions could cause further discomfort in addition to other pregnancy symptoms. These can also be harmful when—for example—you trip and fall due to blurry vision.
To maintain eye health and comfort, here are some eye care tips for expecting mums:
Get an eye exam
While minor eye changes like blurry vision and dry eyes are common, other symptoms—like temporary vision loss—could be signs of pregnancy-related complications, like preeclampsia. This blood pressure condition could harm your health and baby, so it’s vital to detect it early.
Get an eye exam to find out if you’re experiencing typical pregnancy symptoms or something more serious. Your ophthalmologist can determine if this is normal or a sign of a severe eye or pregnancy problem. They also know the type of treatment you'll need to address it. Additionally, bring up eye concerns with your obstetrician or gynaecologist, who are experts in pregnancy-related conditions. They will find out if this is normal or alarming and give you advice and peace of mind.
Wear your sunglasses
Since your eyes are already sensitive due to hormonal changes and prone to blurriness, you must protect them from elements that could cause further damage, like UV rays. Prolonged exposure could lead to even dryer eyes or cataract formation, worsening your eyesight long after giving birth.
Whenever you’re outdoors, wear sunglasses with UV protection. Sunglasses with the latest technologies can block 100% UVA and UVB rays from entering the eye. This helps you protect your eyes from further damage during your pregnancy. Oakley’s sunglasses have high UV protection levels, so you can guarantee they’re effective. In particular, the Sutro Lite and Corridor models use patented PRIZM lenses, which enhance colour and contrast for better vision. The lenses are also big enough to cover your entire eye area, leaving you assured that your eyes are shielded from UV rays to reduce chances of damaging your eyes.
Use eye drops as needed
Aside from dry eyes, you can experience myopia—also known as nearsightedness. This occurs due to refractive errors and physiological changes during pregnancy. Myopia makes it difficult to see objects far away, so you must address it.
Luckily, there are eye drops that can delay myopia progression—especially if you think spending lots of time looking at digital screens contributed to your condition. These won’t only alleviate myopia, but they may also rehydrate your eyes—if needed. The Eikance Atropine Sulfate and Myopine Atropine Sulphate are popular options to consider, as these can dilate the pupil to combat nearsightedness. Consult your eye doctor first, so they can run eye tests and instruct you regarding dosage.
Be mindful of your sleeping position
This may surprise you, but your sleeping position can indirectly affect your vision during pregnancy. Some positions restrict blood flow, which then changes your blood pressure. This can alter eye pressure, leading to nerve tissue damage and vision loss.
Prevent this by being mindful of your sleeping position while pregnant. Sleeping on your side from 28 weeks onwards keeps you from putting pressure on vital blood vessels—compared to sleeping on your back. This way, you won’t impede blood flow to the womb and other body parts. You can use a specialised pregnancy pillow for increased comfort, more so if you’re not used to sleeping on your side before pregnancy. By doing this, you’ll be able to care for your baby and your eyes.
Changes to your vision are common during pregnancy. Even so, you can use our tips to alleviate these symptoms for better comfort and protect your eyes when they are most sensitive.
