Maintaining eye health is an important part of prenatal care, and you can and should go to the eye doctor while pregnant, as most procedures are completely safe. Pregnancy can induce temporary vision changes or, in rare cases, signal systemic health issues, making a professional eye examination a valuable tool for monitoring overall well-being. You must inform your eye care provider about your pregnancy status before any examination or treatment begins.
Safety of Routine Eye Examinations
A standard, comprehensive eye examination is considered safe for pregnant individuals and their developing fetuses. The non-invasive parts of the exam, such as checking visual acuity, assessing eye muscle function, and measuring intraocular pressure, carry no known risk. The primary point of discussion is the use of eye drops for pupil dilation (mydriasis), which is necessary for a thorough examination of the retina. While these drops are generally safe, some providers may delay dilation until the second or third trimester to minimize potential exposure during the first trimester. If dilation is performed, the provider may use the lowest effective concentration and recommend nasolacrimal occlusion, which involves gently pressing the inner corner of the eye to reduce medication absorption into the bloodstream.
Temporary Vision Changes During Pregnancy
Hormonal shifts and generalized fluid retention are responsible for various physiological changes in the eye during pregnancy, most of which are temporary. Water retention can cause a slight increase in the thickness and curvature of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. This change may lead to a temporary shift in refractive error, causing mild blurriness or a change in prescription.
Because these refractive changes are typically reversed after delivery, it is recommended to postpone purchasing new corrective lenses until several weeks postpartum. The hormonal environment can also disrupt the tear film, leading to dry eye syndrome. This dryness can cause irritation, redness, and a decrease in tolerance for wearing contact lenses.
Serious Eye Conditions Linked to Pregnancy
While many visual changes are benign, certain symptoms can indicate a serious systemic health complication requiring immediate attention from both your eye doctor and obstetrician. Visual disturbances are a recognized sign of preeclampsia and its severe form, eclampsia, characterized by high blood pressure and organ dysfunction. Symptoms include the sudden onset of blurred vision, seeing flashing lights (photopsia), or experiencing temporary blind spots (scotomas).
The visual signs of preeclampsia are often related to vasospasm, or the narrowing of blood vessels, which can lead to retinal changes such as hemorrhages, fluid leakage, and serous retinal detachment. Pregnancy also accelerates the progression of pre-existing diabetic retinopathy. In these cases, tight blood sugar control and frequent retinal examinations are necessary to manage the risk of vision loss.
Specific Medications and Procedures to Avoid
To protect the fetus, certain diagnostic procedures and medications commonly used in ophthalmology must be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy. Fluorescein angiography, a test using an injectable dye to visualize blood flow, is generally deferred until after delivery because the dye crosses the placental barrier. Non-invasive imaging alternatives, like optical coherence tomography, are preferred for evaluating the retina.
The use of specific topical and oral medications is also restricted due to potential fetal risks. Certain glaucoma treatments, such as oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and some topical beta-blockers, are often contraindicated or used only when absolutely necessary, sometimes utilizing the occlusion technique used for dilation drops. Elective surgical procedures, including laser vision correction like LASIK, are postponed until corneal changes have stabilized and the patient is no longer pregnant or breastfeeding.