Blurred Vision During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Get insights into Blurred Vision During Pregnancy: causes, symptoms, and strategies for maintaining visual comfort.

Pre-eclampsia and maternal diabetes are just two examples of the complications that can result in blurry vision during pregnancy. Knowing in advance can help avoid these complications during pregnancy.

Causes of blurred vision during pregnancy

As your body changes Blurred vision during pregnancy, so do your eyes. In most cases, these changes are normal and resolve spontaneously after delivery. Some of the common reasons that mothers may experience blurred vision during pregnancy are:

Hormonal changes: Blurred vision during pregnancy, the amount of several hormones in the mother’s body increases. In this case, the effect of the progesterone hormone can cause a fluid shift in the cornea of the eye; that is, the liquid behind the cornea can come out. This fluid shift can cause blurred vision. For the same reason, intraocular pressure may also drop slightly during pregnancy.

Decreased amount of tears: Tears are produced from the lacrimal glands in our eyes. A decrease in tear production from this gland during pregnancy can cause discomfort. The eyes may also become dry. This can cause you to have blurred vision.

Corneal thickening: Blurred vision during pregnancy, hormones increase the amount of fluid in the body. Excess fluid in the cornea of the eye can cause the cornea of your eye to thicken. About 14 percent of mothers may have this problem. It also causes blurred vision.

Changes in the field of vision: One of the glands in our brain is the pituitary gland. This gland increases in size during pregnancy. As a result of the enlargement of the pituitary gland, if someone already has a benign tumor such as a pituitary adenoma, it may increase in size. As a result, pregnant mothers may experience changes in vision, blurred vision, and other problems such as headaches.

So if someone has such symptoms during pregnancy, they must see a doctor. But this is usually not a cause for much concern. Because these types of tumors or growths usually go away on their own after delivery, vision usually returns to normal after delivery.

When are there signs of possible complications?

If you have high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and blurred vision during pregnancy, it indicates various pregnancy complications. Consult a doctor if there are any changes in these cases. Two complications that can cause blurred vision during pregnancy are:

Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a complication of high blood pressure. One of the symptoms is vision problems. For example, Blurred vision during pregnancy or seeing flashes of light in front of the eyes.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms, along with Blurred vision during pregnancy:

A severe headache that does not go away with normal painkillers
Severe heartburn that does not go away with antacids
Sharp pain just below the rib cage
Feeling very bad or sick
Sudden swelling of various parts of the body (e.g., feet, ankles, face, and hands).

You may be at risk for pre-eclampsia if you already have high blood pressure. In this case, avoid the risk of pre-eclampsia by adopting the following simple measures:

Get enough rest during pregnancy.
Take blood pressure or high blood pressure medications that are safe during pregnancy as advised by your doctor.
Get regular eye exams to avoid high blood pressure complications.

However, if preeclampsia causes more complications, the doctor may decide to induce your labour or perform a direct caesarean section if necessary.

Maternal diabetes

Maternal diabetes is a known complication of pregnancy. Blurred vision during pregnancy in maternal diabetes indicates elevated glucose levels in the body.

Retinal blood vessels can be damaged as a complication of maternal diabetes. This can result in permanent vision loss. So if you have gestational diabetes, get your eye blood vessels checked every trimester.

Apart from this, pay special attention to the following symptoms:

Severely blurred vision
Double vision, or seeing anything twice
Temporary loss of vision

If you have diabetes during pregnancy, you can keep yourself at ease by following the following tips:

Avoid processed foods and foods high in fat and sugar.
Eat balanced meals rich in protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Do light exercise regularly?
If your doctor gives you insulin to control your excess glucose, take it regularly.

Other complications

If you have any of the following conditions, blurred vision may mean that these conditions have worsened:

Diabetic retinopathy
Graves’ disease
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Multiple sclerosis
Various tumors. E.g., pituitary adenoma
Uveitis

So if you have had these diseases before and if you see blurred vision during pregnancy, consult a doctor.

Treatment

Normal blurred vision problems during pregnancy do not require treatment. However, if you follow the following tips, you can avoid the problem of blurred vision.

1. Rest the eyes

If you stare at a computer screen all day, your eyes will look blurry from fatigue. Take eye breaks if you are working on a screen for long periods. In this case, every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Apart from this, you can use screen glass or an anti-glare screen. Keep the screen below eye level and two feet away.

2. Use eye drops

If your eyes are dry due to Blurred vision during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe drops that are safe during pregnancy. You should consult your doctor before using these drops, known as artificial tears.

3. Avoid contact lenses

Many mothers may already use contact lenses for eye problems. These contact lenses can be uncomfortable for the eyes during pregnancy. Especially if you have dry eyes. Avoid using contact lenses during pregnancy. Use glasses instead of lenses.

4. Avoid changing the power of the glasses

For many mothers who already wear glasses, their glasses may change during pregnancy. These changes are mostly temporary. In this case, avoid changing the power of the glasses. Blurred vision during pregnancy to body changes during pregnancy starts to improve after delivery.

If your problem persists for a long time after delivery, consult a doctor. But you should wait at least 6–9 months for any changes in your eyes. Because these problems take some time to recover after delivery,.

Frequently Asked Question

Is blurred vision normal during pregnancy?

It is also normal to have dry eyes, itchy eyes, or blurred vision during pregnancy as the power of glasses or lenses changes. But it will not be accompanied by the symptoms of other complications. Studies have shown that about 15 percent of expectant mothers may experience eye changes or vision problems during pregnancy, but in most cases, there is no cause for concern.

From what time in pregnancy can the problem of blurred vision begin?

Blurred vision usually starts in the third trimester of pregnancy. But in some cases, mothers noticed this problem earlier. You can suffer from this problem at the end of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after delivery.

Is it dangerous to have a headache in addition to blurred vision during pregnancy?

Blurred vision with a severe headache during pregnancy can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Which is dangerous for both you and your unborn baby. Seek medical attention immediately. But sometimes migraines can also cause blurred vision along with headaches.