There are a few telltale ways to check if you’re pregnant, even if you don’t take a test. Aside from missing your period, for example, you may feel nauseous, which can signal one classic early sign of pregnancy you can’t ignore: morning sickness. Of course, there are also some less common symptoms you might want to keep an eye out for.
In particular, you may be one of the roughly 14% of women whose vision shifts during pregnancy. Many of the eyesight changes you may experience, including blurred vision, can be caused by more eye dryness, changes in the thickness or shape of your corneas, increased pressure in the eye—and photosensitivity.
That’s right: your eyes may become more light-sensitive while you’re pregnant. That can make it more challenging to do daily tasks like reading and driving (before your third trimester, anyway). It can also cause headaches and migraines, which can cause you to isolate yourself as your due date nears.
To prevent these issues, you may want to learn more about why your pregnancy is making you more photosensitive in the first place, as well as what you can do to manage the symptoms before you give birth.
Why pregnancy can cause light sensitivity
As with every other bodily change you experience while you’re pregnant, increasingly photosensitive eyes are caused by fluctuating hormone levels. Though you may start experiencing light sensitivity in your first trimester, your symptoms may worsen as your pregnancy progresses and your hormone levels shift further.
Pregnancy-related photosensitivity is mostly harmless and likely to resolve itself after you give birth. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it can still cause discomfort and pain while making it harder for you to see clearly and accomplish daily activities. That said, you may want to take steps to manage it.
How expecting moms can ease photosensitivity
Controlling the brightness of your environment is probably the first step you’ll want to take. If you’re indoors, for example, you may want to switch from white LED lights to warmer bulbs or lower the brightness of the devices you use.
When heading outdoors to run an errand or for leisure, you’ll also want to protect your eyes from the sun. That’s best done by wearing sunglasses that offer both form and function. Be wary of fashionable pairs that boast dark lenses but no UV protection, as they’ll only dilate your pupils, let more light in, and worsen photosensitivity-related pain.
Sunglass Hut has women’s sunglasses that offer stylish aesthetics and 100% UV protection, which are worth considering when looking for shades that can reduce photosensitivity. The selection includes models from reputable designer brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Prada.
However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t also wear sunglasses inside to ease light sensitivity. Your eyes will only get used to seeing in dimmer environments, which may worsen your photosensitivity once you take your sunglasses off. Instead, consider investing in photophobia glasses to wear indoors.
Coming from brands like Avulux, these filter out up to 97% of blue, red, and amber light waves, which can worsen light sensitivity and the migraines it may cause. Instead, they let in more calming green light to improve visual comfort. Their lenses can also accommodate any prescriptions you need for vision correction.
When to see a doctor
Unfortunately, photosensitivity during pregnancy may signal more serious, underlying conditions if it’s accompanied by other symptoms. In these cases, it’s been linked with complications like preeclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure).
This condition can significantly put you and your baby at risk, so you’ll want to seek immediate medical attention if you experience light sensitivity as well as blurred vision, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, or nausea.
Yes, pregnancy can make you photosensitive. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to affect you too much. As long as you take the appropriate steps to manage it and consult your doctor when needed, you can handily prevent it from causing discomfort and pain while you’re expecting.
