Pregnancy & Difficulty With Contacts

Problems with your contacts may not be a well-known side effect of pregnancy, but it is a relatively common one. Unfortunately, since pregnancy is a short-term condition there are not too many treatment options, but there are a few ways to get some relief.

Dryness

• The biggest reason your contacts might bother you during pregnancy is because your eyes have become dry as a result of the change in your body's hormones. Dry eyes make contacts uncomfortable and difficult to wear.

Vision

• Fluid retention can cause your eyes to swell slightly and can cause minor changes in the cornea, affecting your vision and causing your contacts to suddenly not work as well. The changes in eyesight should only be temporary and will go away shortly after you give birth.

Other Eye Conditions

• Pregnancy may cause other eye conditions to change, making symptoms worse or, in the case of glaucoma, possibly making them better. For diabetics, eye vessels can become damaged in the retina, and this condition is often worsened during pregnancy. These issues should be monitored by your doctor and may affect your contact usage.

Relief

• Eye drops can be used to help with the relief of dry eyes, but consult your doctor first to make sure they are safe for use during pregnancy. You may want to discontinue use of your contacts and only wear glasses, or wear contacts for shorter periods of time. If your vision is a major problem, you may be able to get a new prescription for use during pregnancy, but your doctor will have to decide if that is an option.

Precautions

• Some symptoms can indicate a larger problem, as in preeclampsia, which can sometimes cause changes in your vision. If you experience double or blurry vision, loss of vision, or if your eyes become sensitive to light or you see lights or flashing in your eyes, contact your doctor right away to make sure everything is OK.