What to do when your eyes become dry during pregnancy

The body's response during pregnancy will change from intense in the early stages to gradually recover in the middle and late stages. On the one hand, it is because the pregnant woman is not suitable for pregnancy at the beginning. On the other hand, it is because of the effects of the substances in the pregnant woman's own body that continuously adapt the body to the survival of the fetus. So, what should you do if you have dry eyes during pregnancy?

1. It is recommended to temporarily say goodbye to contact lenses

Pregnant mothers who are planning to wear contact lenses during pregnancy may feel uncomfortable wearing them during pregnancy. The reason is that the thickness of the cornea increases during pregnancy, which causes the focal length of the lens that blurs the vision to change, and the original contact lenses are no longer suitable. In addition, the inclination of the cornea will also change. The contact lenses that were in line with the inclination of the cornea before pregnancy are no longer in line with it, and of course they feel uncomfortable when worn. In addition, the eyes are prone to dryness during pregnancy, and the feeling of dryness will be more obvious when wearing contact lenses. If pregnant women wear inappropriate contact lenses, they are prone to eye fatigue, discomfort, and even corneal damage. And getting contact lenses again will not solve the problem, because the pregnant mother's cornea is in constant change. Therefore, it is best not to wear contact lenses during pregnancy and to wear myopia glasses instead.

Most expectant mothers' eye changes can return to normal after delivery, but a few cannot return to the level they were ready for pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant mothers who used to wear glasses should have their eyesight checked again after their bodies recover after giving birth, and wear glasses again if necessary. Pay attention to the health of the eyes. The eyes are very important organs of the body and need our careful care. Especially for mothers, due to the influence of pregnancy, protecting eyesight is even more important.

2. Pay attention to eye hygiene

Pregnant mothers who work with computers should keep the distance between their eyes and the screen at more than 50 cm; blink more often on purpose to nourish the dry cornea; and give their eyes a rest after looking at the computer for an hour and look at the scenery in the distance. When studying, the light source should be sufficient, but not too bright; try not to read in a bathroom with dim light. Don’t read books or newspapers while walking or riding in a car, and don’t watch TV shows or play games on your mobile phone or tablet. Do eye exercises once in the morning and at noon every day.

3. Do not use eye drops casually

If you feel sore eyes and are not pregnant, you can use some eye drops to nourish your eyes. Pregnant mothers must take the health of their babies into consideration and should not take any medicine casually, especially eye drops containing chloramphenicol, because a small amount of chloramphenicol may cause serious bone marrow suppression. Therefore, when pregnant mothers have eye discomfort, it is best to consult a doctor whether they need to take medicine and how to take it.

4. Use less skin care products around the eyes

The pregnant mother's blood circulation system speeds up, and the possibility of sty (i.e. stye) will also increase. Most styes are subacute suppurative inflammation of the upper eyelid caused by staphylococcal infection. If pregnant mothers often come into contact with cosmetics around their eyes, it is easy to cause blockage of the eyelash glands and more likely to cause styes. Once they occur, treatment and medication will be more inconvenient. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant mothers do not wear eye shadow or eye makeup to avoid the chance of sty.

If the fundus is damaged due to edema or other physical diseases, it may even lead to blindness. Pregnant mothers must not neglect small details and regret it for the rest of their lives!

5. Enhance nutrition for your eyes

To prevent dry eyes, eye soreness and decreased vision, pregnant mothers should eat more foods rich in vitamin D or carotene, such as protein foods, milk, carrots, kale, broccoli, mango, apricot, persimmon cake, red sweet potato, etc. Vitamin C and vitamin E are also beneficial for protecting the eyes. Most fresh fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C. Vitamin E is found in large quantities in edible oils, dried fruits, and legumes. Vitamin B21 can nourish neurons and is also good for protecting the eyes. It is rich in animal offal, lean meat, whole grains (excluding processed white rice and white flour), beans, and nuts.