I’m 8 months pregnant and my vision seems to be getting worse?

This phenomenon is more common then you may think.  I’d like to address this small question so that I may actually save the mothers-to-be a little time out of doctor’s office (which they seem to have a lot of during those months). 

During pregnancy women experience a huge fluctuation in hormones levels from one month to the next.  This is why pickles, peanut butter, and ice cream sandwiches taste so delicious to a very pregnant mother-to-be, her hormones have taken control of everything.  This does not exclude the ocular system.  The cornea (front surface) and lens (inside the eye, helps to focus near objects) may experience a sense of swelling just like the swelling seen in pregnant ankles.  This is completely different from gestational diabetes (meaning you only have diabetes while you’re pregnant) or hypertension (high blood pressure), which also affects the vision.  So please don’t assume that if your vision is blurry, that you have gestational diabetes.  This swelling has been linked to hormones and seems to be worse during month 8, 9, and 10.  Yes even after giving birth your vision may still be blurry.  The blur is usually noticed a distance, however near may also become blurry.  Feeling as if you're current glasses/contact lenses no longer function to their full capacity.  

Often times we refuse to make any changes in your prescription because these changes are temporary.  This would be my advice; check with your optometrist (or call Eyed LA) to rule out gestational diabetes and/or hypertension, take a break from wearing contact lenses (they exacerbate the corneal swelling & risk for infections are higher), call your optometrist if the change seem drastic to you.  There are always exceptions to all rules, more serious underlying issues may be present accompanied by more symptoms besides blur (headaches, loss of vision, photophobia and/or diplopia (double vision)).  Always use your resources to your best ability to save yourself some time and worry.  No question is ever a unless question.

Please feel free to either comment on this blog or email us: drmaylingonzalez@eyedla.com.  Our website will also have our office hours if a visit is warranted, we are near Santa Monica. 

"See and Be Seen" @ Eyed LA Optometry in Brentwood, West Los Angeles
www.eyedla.com