Vision changes in pregnancy

The eyes can and do often change in pregnancy. The most common change is just a change in the glasses prescription. If you had your heart set on a pair of fancy lenses or having LASIK, this is the wrong time to consider making those changes. Your prescription will fluctuate and then settle down a couple months after delivery. There are many other changes in your vision that can happen during pregnancy that are medically related, but these are unlikely. Gestational diabetes can cause the prescription to change more than regular pregnancy changes and could be a sign that you need to see your doctor. The excess sugar in your blood can change the focusing power of lens of the eye which makes the prescription change. Glaucoma can sometimes improve during pregnancy, and diabetic retinopathy can get worse. The most feared vision changes during pregnancy usually happen due to preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that can cause headaches, blurred vision, and swelling. The changes can also feel like migraine with headache, flashing lights, and blurred areas in your vision. The changes are caused by blood vessel changes that can result in permanent vision loss if they are not corrected quickly. It is often associated with high blood pressure, and the changes can also go along with pregnancy induced hypertension alone. You should see your eye doctor or ophthalmologist when you notice a significant change in vision especially if it is persistent. If you have been diagnosed with preeclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension, and you have changes in vision even if temporary in nature, you should also see your eye doctor. Women with preexisting eye disease or diabetics should also see their eye doctor to determine the appropriate treatment. Ideally this would happen before pregnancy so a plan could be made with regards to treatment to avoid any complications for the baby and mother. If you would like to make an appointment in Georgetown, TX please call 512-686-1224 to schedule with Dr. Aaker.