The hormonal and physical changes experienced during pregnancy can have consequences that few expectant mothers know: changes in their vision. Mild vision changes are indeed possible in pregnant women. These changes can be caused by changes in refraction related to fluid retention. In fact, there are three main types of vision-related problems to watch out for during pregnancy: blurred vision, dry eye or even disorders potentially caused by diabetes or gestational diabetes. Do not worry, however: these changes in vision are temporary in the vast majority of women and the situation returns to normal after childbirth.

In the event of myopia, a visit to the ophthalmologist should be scheduled during pregnancy, as well as if the pregnant woman has already had retinal detachments or affections. A fundus of the eye will be done in order to detect potential damage to the retina. In addition, women with diabetes should see an ophthalmologist every trimester of pregnancy, who will examine the blood vessels in their eyes.

There are very rare cases when more serious eye complications develop. For example, cases of loss of vision secondary to meningioma in pregnant patients have been described in the scientific literature. These cases remain rare and often linked to other associated pathologies. What is most to watch out for, as has already been mentioned, remains gestational diabetes, due to the high level of sugar in the blood that it causes. This high sugar level can cause damage to the small blood vessels supplying the retina, a problem that worsens during pregnancy due to fluid retention.

It is recommended to wait about 6 to 9 months after childbirth before making an appointment with an ophthalmologist, until the eyes are properly adjusted again. In fact, in the vast majority of women, vision returns to normal after childbirth. In rare cases, the changes are permanent. They may then require a new prescription for lenses or glasses from the specialist doctor.

Pregnancy is a time of great hormonal upheaval in women. Hormones are produced by the body, whether the woman is pregnant or not: they help regulate the functioning of the body. During the nine months of pregnancy, the body will significantly increase the production of progesterone and estrogen. These hormonal changes allow in particular the development of the fetus. 

Progesterone, secreted by the placenta, for example promotes the implantation of the egg in the uterus. However, it can promote certain ailments, such as water retention. Thus, progesterone can cause water retention in the retina, the transparent anterior part of the eyeball. The resulting swelling of the cornea changes its radius of curvature, which can lead to visual disturbances. Sight will return to normal after childbirth in most cases. In women who are breastfeeding, this return to normal may take slightly longer, precisely because of prolonged hormonal changes.

There are three main vision problems to watch out for during pregnancy: blurred vision, dry eye, and the consequences of diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Blurred vision

Mild changes in vision are common in women during pregnancy. The vision can, therefore, change on a regular basis, or even differ from time to time. This is potentially caused by changes in refraction, related to fluctuations in the structure or shape of the eye, which are due to fluid retention. No worries, however: in the vast majority of cases, these changes turn out to be temporary.

Dry eye

The body’s natural production of tears may be reduced during pregnancy. This is linked to hormonal fluctuations, and can cause dry eyes in some women. This is manifested by tingling and itching. Most of the time, this phenomenon stops after childbirth. However, in rare cases, this dryness of the eye becomes permanent: a medical prescription will then be necessary. Indeed, if left untreated, dry eyes can cause tissue damage as well as scarring that can impair vision. It will therefore be useful to treat the symptoms of dry eye with artificial tears, gels and ointments that alleviate the discomfort.

Vision problems caused by diabetes or gestational diabetes

Expectant mothers with diabetes, or gestational diabetes that develops during pregnancy, are more likely to have eye problems. This is because the blood vessels in the eye may suffer permanent damage. It is therefore necessary to scrupulously monitor the emergence of a very blurred vision, or very fluctuating. You must also be attentive to the appearance of double vision, glare, but also floaters inside the eyes or even partial loss of vision. It is also necessary to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the retina caused by diabetes and the most serious consequence of which could be permanent blindness.