Vision changes in pregnancy

But you can rest assured that any changes in your eyesight won't last forever, and should improve after you've had your baby. Panic over ?

These changes to your vision are completely normal when you're pregnant, but it's good to keep an eye (get it?) on which symptoms are normal, and which aren't...

How is sight affected by pregnancy?

Your eyesight is affected by 2 things during your pregnancy.

Like so many things, the changing of your hormones is a big factor. Your progesterone levels are low at the early stages and increase during the 3rd trimester, and both of these shifts can affect how you see.

There's also fluid retention, which is known to affect the dryness of your eyes, and make them itchy and uncomfortable.

What happens to vision during pregnancy?

One major changes is the thickening of the cornea (the transparent bit covering the front of your eye). It can also change shape when you're pregnant, though sometimes these changes occur when breastfeeding, too.

These changes to the cornea can lessen the sharpness of your vision, but it can also mean that wearing hard lenses becomes uncomfortable.

If you can, try to wear spectacles or switch to soft lenses if you find your hard lenses difficult to wear.

Why does pregnancy cause dry eyes?

Dry eyes when you're pregnant, known as Dry Eyes Syndrome, is caused by fluid retention. Meaning, the water you retain during pregnancy affects the tear film, which could cause your eyes feel dry and itchy.

You can also blame your hormones again - this time it’s thought to be caused by a drop in the male hormone, androgen, which helps produce tears and keep your eyes moist.

The most likely side effects of this are experiencing a less sharp focus in your vision, irritated eyes or blind spots.

If this happens to you, it's best to avoid 'dry air' as much as possible (that is, go for natural air flow rather than air conditioning, for example).

Speak to your GP or midwife if you feel you need eye drops, as they'll be able to assure you of what's safe for you to use.

How diabetes affects your eyes during pregnancy

If you have pre-existing diabetes before pregnancy, you will most likely be aware of the medical implications of your condition. Your eyesight may suffer as the blood vessels which serve the retina can be affected. Blurred vision can be affected by your blood sugar level.

If you have diabetes, it is important that you discuss any concerns about your eyesight with your doctor or midwife as soon as there are any changes.

How glaucoma affects your eyes during pregnancy

Interestingly, the condition glaucoma tends to improve slightly during pregnancy because the pressure on the eyes reduces when you are expecting.

Like the reduced eyesight and irritation, the improved status for glaucoma sufferers is (sadly) passing and will return to normal after birth.

When are vision changes in pregnancy not normal?

Everything we've described above is normal, but do speak to a medical professional if you have any concerns.

But if you experience any of the following:

• blurred vision, lasting longer than 2 hours
• headaches caused by your eyesight
• seeing spots in front of your eyes

Make sure you speak to your GP or midwife immediately, as these could all be symptoms of more serious pregnancy conditions such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.

Read more:

• Can a camera flash blind a baby's eye?
• Mums talks about having Dry Eyes Syndrome
• Can you predict your baby's eye colour?