Pregnancy affected eyesight

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I’ve always had regular eye check ups

Before having children my eye sight was perfect, no prescription at all.

After my first child in 2021 Age 25, there was a notable difference, things seemed a bit hazy long distance when they’d never before. Went to the opticians and my sight had deteriorated slightly, I now had a prescription. But I didn’t really need to wear them I was still ok driving etc.

I had my second child 6 months ago Age 28 now and I noticed my sight had again deteriorated further! Went to the opticians and I had a new prescription showing how much it had changed. I told the optometrist my concerns about me now having to glasses more often than not annd the sudden decrease within an 3 year span and was laughed at. He said there are people so much worse off which I understand but to have perfect vision to then not being able to drive without my glasses because I’m struggling to read big signs/reg plates in front. My kids faces look blurry when I’m looking at them from across the room! I’m genuinely worried. He said having children your hormones can affect your eyesight but everyone I talk to has not experienced this so I’m reaching out on mumsnet.

Has having kids affected your eyesight?

Should I get a second opinion? I only had the eye test 2 months ago but I feel it’s still deteriorating and it’s scaring me.

Yes, I had to have a different contact lens prescription for a while and got additional check-ups for about 6 months after birth. I remember breastfeeding DC1 during one of them and the very nice optician working round him.

Not sure what the big concern is though. If you've never worn glasses before I can see it's a bit of a change but most people wear them eventually. I started at about 13.

You really should see your gp for diabetes screening and a referral to specialist ophthalmologist. Your deteriorating eyesight sounds more severe than just what can be attributed to pregnancy.

I've been wearing glasses for nearly 50y. When I was pregnant 20y ago and went for a regular eye-test my vision had deteriorated. The optician said he thought that pregnant women should have free eye tests, just as we had free dentistry and prescriptions, because the hormonal changes and blood pressure changes can affect our eyes. In my case the deterioration was not unexpected as my vision has tended to deteriorate my whole life. But I found what he said very interesting.

You may well find that exercising your vision helps. You cannot change the shape of your eyeball, but the size of your pupils and the shape of your lenses are controlled by muscles, which can be exercised like any muscle.

TBH I don't remember the exercises. They involved things like smoothly changing your focus from far to near and back again, looking through pinholes, and exposure to sunlight. But I'm sure you can google them.