Hormone changes that occur during pregnancy can cause blurry vision. Having blurry vision can be worrisome, but it's rarely permanent. Most people's vision returns to normal in the weeks following delivery.
Your hormones during pregnancy may cause dry eyes, due to a change in the quality and amount of tear production in your eye. You might experience symptoms such as excessive tearing, intermittent blurry vision or a scratchy, burning sensation.
Many women report having vision changes during pregnancy, which usually begins in the second and third trimesters and goes away a few months after birth or breastfeeding. Blurry vision during pregnancy is mostly due to hormonal changes leading to water retention in the eye and dry eye.
Extra water retention can also cause pressure to build up in the eyes — pressure that can potentially lead to discomfort. The type of vision changes pregnant women may experience will vary — after all, every woman has a unique body and medical history.
Blurred vision is the most common visual complaint. Focal or generalized arteriolar narrowing is the most common ocular finding in preeclampsia/eclampsia syndrome. Other ocular manifestations include photopsia, visual field defects, sudden inability to focus, and in severe cases, complete blindness.
These are called "floaters," and they are usually normal and harmless. They usually can be seen most easily when you look at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous – the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye.
Indeed, hormonal changes can cause dry, itchy, and burning eyes during pregnancy. Eye pain during pregnancy is also not uncommon. Sometimes, you may even experience blurred vision.
Estrogen can also make the cornea less stiff with more elasticity, which can affect how light travels into the eye. The dryness and the change in refraction can cause blurry vision and can also make wearing contact lenses difficult.
Eye pressure may decrease during pregnancy for many women, but for others, it may spike. For this reason, pregnant women with glaucoma should have periodic eye exams scheduled throughout the pregnancy and must follow through with all recommended appointments.
Eye floaters during pregnancy are caused due to the increased water retention in the eyes that is caused due to hormonal changes. These eye floaters lead to discomfort and affect your eyesight during pregnancy. Note: All the changes in your eyesight during pregnancy are usually temporary and go away on their own.
In fact, it's ideal that you receive an eye exam during your pregnancy. You're likely seeing your obstetrician regularly, but don't ignore other doctors. Hormonal changes you experience during pregnancy can affect your vision and eye health, and visiting your eye doctor can help manage these potential changes.
It is important that your ophthalmologist examines not only the optical system of your eye but also the condition of your retina. The problem is that the major threat to the condition of your eyes during pregnancy, labor and delivery is deterioration of the retina (degeneration or dystrophic changes).
If things are blurred or you see flashing lights, this could be caused by: a migraine (a severe headache that can affect your senses) pregnancy induced hypertension (high blood pressure in pregnancy). This is a type of high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks and goes away within 6 weeks of the baby's birth.
Cluster headaches are less common but can occur during pregnancy. You'll suddenly have severe pain around your eyes or temples usually about the same time every day. The good news is that there are plenty of pregnancy-safe things you can do to prevent and relieve the most common pregnancy headaches.
There are many possible causes of distorted vision, such as eye disease, damage to the eye, or eye infection and inflammation. Identifying the cause of your distorted vision is an important step in finding the correct treatment. Distorted vision is often a symptom of a greater eye problem.
While blurred vision often gets worse gradually, there are conditions that may cause blurring to start up suddenly. These types of conditions can be medical emergencies and include: Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A steep increase in blood pressure.
A lack of sleep, smoke in the air, allergies or dry eye can sometimes cause a burning or gritty sensation in the eye. Artificial tears can alleviate the sensation. “But if you suspect an object in your eye is causing the irritation, go to an ophthalmologist.
Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in your urine (proteinuria). It's unlikely that you'll notice these signs, but they should be picked up during your routine antenatal appointments. In some cases, further symptoms can develop, including: severe headache.
Signs and Symptoms of Mild Preeclampsia
If a pregnant woman does have preeclampsia, her blood pressure will elevate, she will retain water and there will be elevated amounts of protein in the urine. Weight gain exceeding 2 pounds per week as well as swelling of the hands or face can be a sign of preeclampsia.
Experts believe it begins in the placenta — the organ that nourishes the fetus throughout pregnancy. Early in a pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to supply oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels don't seem to develop or work properly.
Preeclampsia initially has no obvious symptoms and most women with the condition feel well. That's why regular antenatal checks of your blood pressure are so important. Early symptoms of preeclampsia include: a sudden rise in blood pressure (above levels at the start of pregnancy)
“If your preeclampsia isn't severe, your provider will watch you closely and most likely deliver at around 37 weeks,” says Dr. Taylor. “If your preeclampsia is more severe, your delivery will be closer to 34 weeks.”