Pregnancy is a very exciting and beautiful time in every mother's life. However, it also brings with it many unexpected changes in the body. One of the most common problems that some mothers face is sudden blurred vision. It's like looking through a fog, and you may be worried about this condition. You may be wondering, "What happened to my eyes?" But don't worry. Today, we'll talk about why this happens, when we should be concerned about it, and what to do.
Why do my eyes get so blurry during pregnancy?
Simply put, the main reason for this is the hormonal changes that occur in your body. Throughout pregnancy, various hormones are secreted to help the baby grow in the womb. These hormones cause the body to retain more fluid than normal. Not only will your legs swell, but this excess fluid can also have some effects on your eyes.
This happens in several ways:
- Corneal changes: This fluid retention can cause the cornea, the transparent part at the front of your eye, to change slightly in thickness and shape. Even this small change can be enough to blur your vision.
- Decreased tear production: Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, tear production can also decrease. This can cause the eyes to become dry, red, and slightly itchy, with blurred vision.
- Intraocular pressure: Sometimes there may be some change in the pressure inside the eye.
The good news is that this is often a temporary condition . As your body's hormone levels return to normal within a few weeks or a month or two after giving birth, your vision will clear up again.
When is blurred vision a sign of a serious condition?
While this is normal most of the time, sometimes this blurred vision can be a warning sign of a serious medical condition. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this for your safety and that of your baby.
Remember, it is very important to inform your doctor about any new symptoms that occur during pregnancy.
Blurred vision may be a major symptom in the two conditions listed below.
| Disease status | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Gestational Diabetes | In a woman who has not had diabetes before, blood sugar levels rise abnormally during pregnancy. If left uncontrolled, this can damage the blood vessels in the eyes and cause blurred vision. |
| Preeclampsia | A dangerous condition that occurs during pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. This can affect the brain, causing symptoms such as blurred vision and headaches. |
Both of these conditions can be dangerous for you and your unborn baby. If severe, they can even affect the life of the mother and baby. So if you have the slightest doubt about this, see your doctor immediately and get checked out.
Other symptoms that require immediate medical attention
In addition to blurred vision, if you experience these symptoms, you should be especially concerned. If this happens, call your doctor without delay. You may also need to go to the Emergency Department (ETU) .
- Severe or sudden blurred vision .
- Double vision.
- Seeing small black dots or balls of thread floating in front of the eyes (eye floaters).
- Flashes of light.
- Blurred vision with severe headache .
- Partial loss of vision or the appearance of blind spots.
- Difficulty looking at bright light (Sensitivity to light).
- Severe swelling of the face or hands.
These symptoms should not be ignored , especially since they could be signs of a serious condition like preeclampsia.
Can existing medical conditions worsen?
Yes. If you already have a medical condition, such as diabetes, you may be at increased risk of eye complications during pregnancy. For example:
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Graves' disease
- Glaucoma
If you have this condition, it is very important to work closely with your doctor and ophthalmologist throughout your pregnancy.
What are the treatments for this?
Treatment depends on the cause of blurred vision.
If due to normal hormonal changes:
There is no specific treatment for this. The best thing to do is to be patient until the baby is born. If your eyes are dry, red, or itchy, you can use lubricating eye drops as directed by your doctor . But remember, do not use any medication or eye drops without your doctor's approval.
If preeclampsia is caused by:
This is a condition that should be treated under the supervision of a specialist. Your doctor may recommend things like:
- Bed rest.
- Safe medications for controlling blood pressure during pregnancy.
- If the condition is severe, inducing labor may be necessary to protect the baby and mother.
If it is due to gestational diabetes:
The main thing here is to control blood sugar levels. To do this:
- Avoid sugary drinks, sweets, and processed foods.
- Eating according to a proper nutritional plan.
- Engaging in appropriate exercise as per medical advice.
- Sometimes you may need to take insulin injections.
Take-Home Message
- Blurred vision during pregnancy is a common condition that many mothers experience, and is usually nothing to worry about. The main cause is hormonal changes.
- Often, this condition resolves on its own within a few weeks after the baby is born.
- However, it can also be a warning sign of a serious condition such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
- If you experience other symptoms such as blurred vision, severe headache, double vision, floaters, or swelling of the limbs, inform your doctor immediately.
- Don't ignore any changes in your vision. For your safety and that of your baby, never hesitate to talk to your doctor about anything, no matter how small.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What is Blurry Vision?
This is not the blurriness that usually occurs when your eyes are full of tears! 'Blurry Vision' is a condition where when you look at something far away or near, its shape is not clear, like when a TV signal is lost, or it feels very dark/foggy (Lack of sharpness). This can affect both eyes, or just one eye.
💬 What are the main causes of blurry vision?
This is often a sign that you need glasses (Myopia/Hyperopia). But the most dangerous causes are: 1) 'Diabetic Retinopathy' - high blood sugar causes the blood vessels in the back of the eye to burst. 2) 'Cataracts' - the lens of the eye becomes cloudy (especially in the elderly). 3) 'Glaucoma' - the pressure inside the eye cannot be tolerated and the main nerve in the eye rots, leading to blindness for life!
💬 When you experience blurred vision, you should go to a hospital/ophthalmologist immediately. What are the 'Red Flags'?
The biggest danger! If your blurred vision comes on, 1) suddenly, within a minute or two (Sudden onset), 2) accompanied by 'severe eye pain (Glaucoma)', 3) one side of the face becomes numb and you can't speak (Stroke), 4) black spots/ants moving in the middle of the vision loss (Floaters) and flashes of light (Retinal Detachment), if you are not hospitalized within an hour, you may be permanently blind in both eyes!
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