Taking Care of Your Eyes While You’re Expecting

ID-100240225Pregnancy brings forth a lot of changes in women — from the obvious baby bump to unexplained food cravings and aversion. Such physical and physiological changes are often brought about by the hormonal shifts when a woman is expecting. Although eye health may be the last thing in an expectant woman’s mind, Dr. Thomas Croley shares the most common vision changes during pregnancy below.

Possible Vision Changes During Pregnancy

    • Dry Eyes – This is only temporary and may be a result of hormonal fluctuations. Extreme cases of dry eyes can be remedied with lubricating eye drops and increasing one’s consumption of foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, walnuts, and flax seeds
    • Puffy Eyelids – This is another common adverse effect of hormonal shifts during pregnancy and will most likely disappear after childbirth. A diet low in sodium is recommended to avoid or reduce puffiness.
    • Spots or Blurred Vision – This symptom may strongly indicate gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes which develops during pregnancy). Blurred vision may result from elevated blood sugar levels. Additionally, blurred vision with spots may also be a sign of high blood pressure levels during pregnancy.
    • Refractive Changes – Women who are expecting may experience slight changes in the strength of their eyeglasses and contact lenses. This is not primarily a cause of concern but they can ask their eye care provider about it for temporary solutions.

 

Are you pregnant and would love to learn more about eye health care while you’re expecting? Call (352) 237-8400 or fill out this contact form today to set up an appointment. We look forward to your visit!

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