Vision Changes During Pregnancy

Vision Changes During Pregnancy

Many changes take place in a woman’s body during pregnancy; changes in vision are no exception to this rule. Fortunately, these changes are rarely serious.

The cornea, or main lens, is most often affected by pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s body holds more water than it typically would. This can cause the cornea to become swollen which may slightly change the shape of your lens. For this reason, a pregnant woman may notice a change in her prescription if she currently wears corrective lenses. Also, since the lens shape may be temporarily altered, it is not recommended that women undergo laser corrective surgery during pregnancy or while nursing.

Some of the more severe vision changes are seen in women who develop preeclampsia. When suffering from preeclampsia blood vessels become narrow, including those in the eye, causing women to see spots or have darkened vision.

These changes usually reverse themselves after pregnancy. However, it is important to maintain healthy eyes before pregnancy so that if these changes occur you can properly assess the differences. If you would like to schedule an appointment with an Eye Care Professional of Eye Center South, please call our office at 334-793-2211 or 800-467-1393.