Do you wear strong lenses, have a severe eye defect? You are probably wondering how pregnancy and childbirth will affect your eyes. Don't worry, everything will be fine, but you need to be in contact with an ophthalmologist. Check what you should pay attention to if you are pregnant and wearing glasses.

Pregnancy and childbirth with a visual impairmentdo not arouse such emotions as they used to. Fortunately, the days when ladies wearing glasses were warned against pregnancy due to the risk of blindness are gone. Now, doctors advise against procreation only when the vision defect is very severe (above 20 diopters) and irreversible changes have appeared on the retina of the eye. Poorer eyesight is also no longer an indication for a cesarean section.

No scientific research has proven that natural birth worsens eyesight.

However, you should take care of your eyes, as your eyesight usually deteriorates slightly during pregnancy. It is not only women who have problems with their eyesight on a daily basis and have to wear corrective lenses. The eyes of those future mothers who have seen well so far also get weaker - the image, especially after a tiring day, may be slightly blurred. All because of hormonal changes that can cause swelling in the eyeball. This in turn leads to a deterioration of vision and a worsening of the visual impairment. Usually, it is a temporary situation and after the baby is born, the eyesight returns to the state it was before the pregnancy.

Pregnancy with a visual impairment - under the constant care of an ophthalmologist

A future mother with a visual impairment should be under the constant care of an ophthalmologist. Only he can judge whether the changes in visual acuity are natural for the period of pregnancy or whether they are disturbing. He also decides if the expectant mother can wear the same glasses or if she should change them for stronger ones. What about contact lenses? Experts usually advise you to change them to glasses during pregnancy. Because pregnancy hormones change the composition of tears, ladies wearing lenses often complain that their eyes sting and watering.

When you are pregnant and have a visual impairment

  • A visually impaired pregnant woman must not be lifted - not only because of the pregnancy, but also to prevent the detachment of the retina.
  • in pregnancy, it is better to avoid sitting in front of the computer; doctors advise expectant mothers not to spend beforemore than 4 hours a day with a monitor; there is a risk you may get a condition called dry eye syndrome; is manifested by burning, redness, a feeling of "sand in the eyes", this requires frequent use of eye drops.
  • eyesight is influenced by a proper diet, therefore pregnant women with visual impairment should eat foods rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene (e.g. fish, carrots).

Childbirth with a visual defect without complications

If your eyesight is severely impaired, it is worth visiting an ophthalmologist 2-3 weeks before the birth to check if everything is okay, to check the intraocular pressure and the condition of the retina. Such consultation is not obligatory, but it is worth doing for your own peace of mind. The doctor will surely dispel all your doubts related to natural childbirth. Note: contrary to what can be read on the Internet, you do not need to take any diopter number certificate from him - such information will not make a great impression on the gynecologist and will not automatically qualify you for a caesarean section.

When is a caesarean section when you have a visual impairment?

It is only recommended if the woman has previously undergone retinal adhesive surgery. In such a situation, there is a risk that the physical exertion associated with natural childbirth, especially in the pushing phase, may cause an increase in pressure in the eyeball and detach the retina. This can seriously impair eyesight, or even lose it. That's why doctors blow it cold and take the baby out of the belly. In the case of other visual defects, an attempt is made to deliver a natural child. Sometimes, with a greater defect, doctors shorten the pressure phase. It is very rare that during childbirth, mom suddenly starts to see worse and the labor does not progress - then a caesarean section is necessary. You may wear glasses during labor ( although midwives often ask you to remove your lenses), but you must remove your contact lenses. If you need to undergo anesthesia (when you suddenly need to have a caesarean section), you may not have time for it, and prolonged exposure to lenses, especially overnight lenses, is unhe althy for your eyes.

Important

What is wrong with your eyes during pregnancy?

You saw perfectly well so far, and now your eyes are causing problems? Be sure to go to an ophthalmologist, because only he can assess what kind of vision defect you have. The most common are:

  • short-sightedness - to see an object well, myopia brings it closer to the eyes
  • hyperopia (popularly known as farsightedness) - in order to clearly see, for example, letters in a book, the farsighted person pushes it away
  • astigmatism (most often it is a birth defect)is partially blurred image watched
  • strabismus - improperly positioning the eyeball (or both) causes a change in the viewing angle of one eye in relation to the other. The image is "running apart".
  • night blindness - poor vision at night or in low light.
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Eye diseases and vision disorders