Yes, you can and should get an eye exam while pregnant, as it is a safe and beneficial procedure. Pregnancy affects the entire body through hormonal and fluid changes, which manifest in the eyes. Since the eyes can reflect systemic health conditions exacerbated by pregnancy, such as hypertension, a comprehensive eye check-up is a proactive step in prenatal care. Always inform your eye doctor and your obstetrician about your pregnancy status to ensure collaborative care.
Safety of Eye Exam Procedures During Pregnancy
Standard eye examination procedures are safe for the developing baby and the mother. Equipment used to measure eye pressure, such as a tonometer, and devices for retinal imaging pose no risk. These diagnostic tools are non-invasive and do not utilize concerning radiation during pregnancy.
Mydriatic eye drops for dilation are considered safe for occasional use when medically necessary to fully inspect the retina. Common dilating agents, like tropicamide, are applied topically and absorbed systemically in minimal amounts. To further reduce this low risk, the eye doctor may use punctual occlusion, which involves applying gentle pressure to the tear duct after the drops are administered.
Punctual occlusion limits the amount of medication that drains into the nasal passage and enters the bloodstream. Your eye doctor may opt for shorter-acting drops or avoid dilation entirely unless a full retinal examination is required to investigate concerning symptoms. The benefits of detecting a serious condition often outweigh the minimal risk associated with these procedures.
Temporary Vision Changes Linked to Pregnancy
Temporary vision changes are primarily caused by widespread fluid retention affecting the structures of the eye. Fluid can accumulate in the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye, similar to swelling in the ankles. This corneal edema changes the tissue’s thickness and curvature, altering how light is focused onto the retina.
This shift in focus can lead to a mild, temporary increase in nearsightedness, or myopia, making distant objects appear blurrier. Hormonal fluctuations can also reduce tear production, resulting in chronic dry eye syndrome. This often causes significant discomfort and can make wearing contact lenses difficult or even impossible during the pregnancy.
These refractive shifts are typically mild and do not require a change in prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The vision changes are considered benign and are expected to reverse once the body’s fluid and hormonal levels normalize. Therefore, updating your permanent vision correction during this time is generally discouraged, as the new prescription is unlikely to be accurate long-term.
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Attention
While most vision changes are temporary and harmless, certain symptoms can signal a serious underlying systemic health issue that requires immediate medical attention. The sudden onset of blurred or distorted vision, especially when accompanied by new visual disturbances, is a serious warning sign. These disturbances can include seeing flashing lights, a shower of new floaters, or a temporary loss of vision in one or both eyes.
These symptoms may relate to severe conditions like preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and organ damage. Preeclampsia affects the blood vessels in the retina, leading to swelling or damage that impacts sight. Persistent, severe headaches that do not respond to common pain relievers, or double vision, should also prompt an immediate consultation with both your eye doctor and your obstetrician.
Gestational diabetes can also affect the small blood vessels in the retina. Any sudden, profound change in visual acuity should be treated as an urgent matter for both maternal and fetal health.
Post-Delivery Vision Stability
Temporary vision changes are closely tied to the body’s elevated hormone and fluid levels during pregnancy. Once these levels return to their non-pregnant state, corneal swelling subsides and the pre-pregnancy refractive error usually returns. This stabilization process typically occurs in the weeks or months following delivery.
In some cases, the return to baseline vision may take longer, especially if the mother is breastfeeding, as certain hormones remain elevated. Eye care professionals generally advise patients to wait until at least eight weeks postpartum, or until breastfeeding ceases, before obtaining a new, permanent prescription for corrective lenses. Getting new glasses or contacts during this period of fluctuation can result in a prescription that quickly becomes inaccurate as the eyes continue to stabilize.