Vision problems

[Stephanie226]

Hey ladies, I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I woke on Friday to a line diagonally across my vision in my left eye. This has progressed to flashing blue and purple lights, not constant, comes and goes. Headache but nothing too noticeable. I phoned maternity unit to see if it's normal and she said I need to get myself to an optician, if I went up there all they would do is check my blood pressure and urine so wouldn't really be worth while. Anyone any experience? xx

Please call back/go to hospital to get checked, “visual disturbances” and I think headaches which do not go away can indicate high blood pressure - I’m not sure why the person you spoke to thought that checking your BP would not be worth it. Take care

That was my concern but I didn't want to be dramatic 😂 I have my midwife on Tuesday so will check with her and my mum has a blood pressure monitor so I will go check my BP today. Thanks for your reply x

You’re definitely not being dramatic! I’m not sure how accurate at home blood pressure monitors are/if your mum is a HCP.

Hopefully it is nothing serious but better to get checked ASAP. This is from the NHS website which suggests immediate medical advice for flashing lights:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia/

Please get this looked at OP. Visual disturbances during pregnancy can be a sign of pre eclampsia and I'm very surprised it wasn't taken more seriously.

Agree with everyone saying you must get this checked. Initially an urgent BP and urine check, then optician asap. If you have an Eye A&E near you go there. They will not turn you away with those symptoms.

The fact that it is one eye only suggests to me that it is an optical emergency.

Don't wait to speak to your midwife. Go to A&E now.

I'm a midwife and suffer from hemiplegic migraines, always have. Had another 'migraine' and spent a week convincing myself, my family and my own midwife that it wasn't pre eclampsia. Turned out it was pre eclampsia 🙄🙄 and I was quite unwell and an inpatient for 3 weeks til I was induced. Definitely worth getting checked out

There are several possibilities here, all of which require you to seek proper advice quickly:

You might have a torn retina - in which case your sight is at risk.
You might have pre-eclampsia - in which case you and your pregnancy could be at risk.
You might have a bad migraine - in which case this needs dealing with and preventative measures taken to avoid further.

I cannot believe the midwife said there was no point in seeing them as they would just take BP and test urine - there is no "just" about it - these are the things that need doing.

Get yourself to a medic.

I have been in a situation with similar symptoms and my retina had torn - I was seen as an emergency at the eye hospital and they said I could have lost my sight without the speedy treatment that I received.

I’m an optometrist and I had similar ophthalmic migraines when pregnant. However, I also had it checked out first.
HBP/pre-eclampsia does often show up in the retina, so if you’re being checked out first thing tomorrow, that might show up. But it’s not a certaincy, your midwife is correct though, you need to rule out a retinal detachment first, then investigate other issues. Make sure you’re seen first thing tomorrow.

How are you OP?

Hello, I had something similar when I was 28 weeks pregnant. My optician referred me straight to the eye hospital and later that day the midwife came to my house to check my urine and BP. I ended up having an MRI to rule anything sinister out as my urine and BP were clear but was diagnosed with optical neuritis in the end. Its finally starting to clear (8 weeks later) but was all taken very seriously so its really important you get it checked ASAP.

Thanks so much for asking. Vision still the same and headache won't go. Phoned maternity again on Monday morning at 8am and got checked out so all was good with that side of things so booked in with optician on Friday x