Seeing for Two
An expectant mother might not have believed her eyes when she saw the
positive pregnancy test result, but now that Baby is on the way, her eyes
may really be playing tricks on her! The Better Vision Institute, a
non-profit group dedicated to educating the public about vision health,
wants women to know that they may experience eye and vision changes during
pregnancy.
"During pregnancy, a woman's body changes drastically to prepare for the birth of her child," says ophthalmologist Wendell Wong, a BVI Advisory Council member. "An increase in hormones often causes temporary eye conditions and although vision returns to normal after delivery, seeing an eye care professional can help ease the transition process."
Women should also be aware that certain vision problems can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. It is therefore important for women to monitor vision changes during pregnancy. To help, the Better Vision Institute has compiled a chart that highlights the most common vision changes that occur during pregnancy and those which may warn that something more threatening is amiss.