Watch out for eye trouble during pregnancy

SUNDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Vision problems can happen throughout pregnancy, and ladies should speak with their physician when they do notice any vision changes, say experts at Prevent Blindness America.

April is Women's Eye Safety and health Awareness Month, based on the volunteer eye safety and health organization.

Discomfort with contact contacts, echoing changes, dry eyes, puffy eyelids that obscure side vision and sensitivity to light because of migraines are among vision changes that could occur throughout pregnancy. Some vision changes, for example blurred vision to see spots, may suggest serious problems.

"Ladies who have pre-existing conditions, like glaucoma, high bloodstream pressure or diabetes, must let their optometrist know that they're pregnant or likely to conceive, therefore the physician can monitor carefully for just about any alterations in vision," Daniel D. Garrett, senior v . p . of Prevent Blindness America, stated inside a prepared statement.

Issues that women that are pregnant can experience include:

• Echoing changes. Throughout pregnancy, alterations in hormonal levels may modify the strength a women needs in her own contact contacts or eyeglasses. This slight change is generally no reason to be concerned. Women should speak with their optometrist about this.


• Dry eyes. This issue is generally temporary and disappears after delivery. Lubricating or rewetting eye drops are dependable throughout pregnancy or while nursing.


• Migraines. They are triggered by hormonal changes and therefore are common among women that are pregnant. In some instances, migraine head aches could make eyes feel more responsive to light. Speak to your physician prior to taking any migraine medicines.


• Diabetes. Women that are pregnant are in elevated risk for developing diabetes. Blurred vision might be a sign of elevated bloodstream sugar levels. All ladies who're pregnant or planning to conceive and also have been identified with diabetes is deserving of a complete, dilated eye exam.


• High bloodstream pressure. Fuzzy vision to see spots might be an indication of high bloodstream pressure throughout pregnancy. High bloodstream pressure may cause retinal detachment.

More details

The Merle West Clinic in Or has much more about eye problems throughout pregnancy.

SOURCE: Prevent Blindness America, news release, March 27, 2007