What causes vision loss during pregnancy?

When a woman is pregnant, there will always be some changes in her body, such as feeling sleepy, lack of strength, back pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc. Sometimes she will also find that her vision has decreased. These may be related to changes in hormones in the body and will generally recover on their own after delivery. The following editor will introduce some reasons for decreased vision during pregnancy.

Causes come from hormonal changes and edema

Pregnant women must be aware that vision may change due to hormonal changes and swelling during pregnancy, which may change the thickness and curvature of the cornea and affect the prescription of glasses or contact lenses needed. Sudden "poor vision" may leave you helpless, but it is not a serious problem. Unless you feel extremely uncomfortable or your safety is affected, you do not need to change your glasses or contact lenses.

In late pregnancy, some women's corneas may swell and thicken, a process called "corneal edema," which can make contact lenses uncomfortable to use. Eyes become sensitive and susceptible to infection, leading to red eyes, eye discomfort, and the inability to wear contact lenses. Therefore, we recommend that you prepare a pair of backup glasses in advance in case of emergency.

Hormonal changes, such as a drop in estrogen during pregnancy and breastfeeding, will affect tear volume. You may experience burning, itching, dryness, discomfort, or even sudden uncontrollable tearing of the eyes. Due to dry eyes, you have to use eye drops frequently to reduce the discomfort caused by contact lenses, which causes inconvenience.

To avoid possible infections and discomfort from contact lens use during pregnancy, laser vision surgery is the best option to restore vision and get rid of glasses. This is also something you should consider before you become pregnant. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, elevated hormones may affect vision stability, even flashes and myopia, which in turn may affect the effectiveness of laser vision correction surgery.

Don't overuse your eyes

The best way to protect your eyes is to give your eyes more rest, try to reduce the time you use your eyes, avoid overusing your eyes, and look into the distance every once in a while to relax your eye muscles. You can apply hot compresses, gently massage the area around your eyes, and do eye exercises at home to effectively relieve fatigue and discomfort and reduce the burden on your eyes. In addition, using some products such as eye drops, ointments or mydriatic agents before bedtime is also a good way to relieve symptoms.

5 nutrients to improve vision

Omega-3

Omega-3 is a type of unsaturated fatty acid. EPA and DHA, two common nutritional supplements on the market, belong to this type of unsaturated fatty acids, and are also found in abundance in deep-sea fish oil and many fish.

When the unsaturated fatty acid content in the body of an expectant mother is sufficient, it can protect the eyes and reduce the damage to the eyes caused by harmful light. More importantly, this unsaturated fatty acid can also help promote the brain and vision development of the fetus in the womb.

Minerals

In addition to vitamins that can help with antioxidants, minerals also have similar functions. Some trace metal elements such as copper, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, etc., will assist in the antioxidant enzyme function of SOD (superoxide dismutase, a protein enzyme in the body) in the expectant mother's body, effectively fighting free radicals and protecting cells. Normally, expectant mothers can get these minerals from dairy products, eggs, whole grains and colorful vegetables.

anthocyanin

Anthocyanins are now very popular nutrients. Like vitamins, minerals, zeaxanthin and lutein, they have antioxidant functions. Anthocyanins can effectively inhibit the damage of free radicals and certain enzymes, strengthen blood vessels and promote blood circulation, and can improve the symptoms of various eye diseases such as myopia, hyperopia, retinopathy, night blindness, glaucoma, etc. If expectant mothers want to supplement anthocyanins, they can take them through bilberry, blueberry, grape and their extracts.

Vitamins

Oxidation occurs in the human body, thus producing free radicals, which are also harmful to the eyes. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement with natural foods that are rich in antioxidant functions, such as carrots (rich in β-carotene, a source of vitamin A), tomatoes (rich in lycopene in the B vitamins), papaya (rich in vitamin C and vitamin E) and other fruits and vegetables.

Zeaxanthin and Lutein

These two nutrients are also very helpful for maintaining eyes and must be obtained from food. For example, spinach and broccoli are rich in lutein, while wolfberry and pumpkin are even richer in zeaxanthin. These are all natural foods worth recommending. These two nutrients can not only prevent vision deterioration, but also protect the retina and prevent the occurrence of diseases such as cataracts, which have many benefits.

Many foods are helpful for eyesight, such as carrots, which contain a lot of vitamin A, which can relieve physical fatigue. When women find that their eyesight is declining during pregnancy, it is best to eat some foods that are helpful to the eyes and provide sufficient nutrition. You can also check your eyesight during prenatal check-ups.