Lens not the ‘best idea’ during pregnancy

Lens not the ‘best idea’ during pregnancy

JUN 24 -

We are all aware of the fact that the body changes during pregnancy. And just as it alters various systems within the mother's body, pregnancy is now also known to have effects on the physiology and patho-physiology of the mother's eyes. Of course, any changes in vision induced by pregnancy are temporary and will disappear once the baby is born. But it would be wise for would-be mothers to know what to expect, so that they are able to identify when symptoms are pointing to serious problems and when they are benign.

The changes in hormone levels, metabolism, fluid retention and blood circulation that occur when one is pregnant, all affect the eyes and eyesight. This is a particular concern for contact lens-wearers who might experience discomfort. Research has shown that between 25-30 percent of lens-wearers develop problems during pregnancy.

When one is with child, one could see one's water-storage capacity increase by about 6.5 litres. Since the cornea contains 70 percent water, it is the first part of the eye to be affected by this water retention, leading to corneal thickness and curvature, further causing difficulties with previously comfortable contact lenses. Pregnancy also causes a reduction of tear film stability, experienced by about 80 percent of pregnant women, which can cause dry eye symptoms.

It might, therefore, not be the best idea to get fitted for new lenses or invest in glasses until several weeks post-partum. If you do insist on wearing lenses, and they get increasingly challenging to keep on, try reducing the frequency at which and the number of hours you wear them for—or switch to glasses for the entire duration.

Keeping a humidifier in at home or the workplace can also help combat dry eyes. An alternative to this would be opening the windows for a while, or having some plants nearby. Yet another alternative is the use of artificial tear substitutes to keep the eyes hydrated.

Contact lens intolerance, however, is not a given with all pregnancies, and of course, it is not permanent. It is important to remember that after nine months, when the body is recovering from having given birth, the shape and thickness of the cornea return to normal, as do vision and the tear film stability.

But there is always the small chance that the changes don't recede, and your vision and cornea shapes remain altered. More often than not, there is no reason for concern; you will merely have to get new corrective eyewear. It would be best to schedule eye exams before and after the pregnancy to keep track of changes, if any.

Dr Kharel is an Ophthalmologist at the BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine