The course of pregnancy is influenced by many different factors, including he alth problems and deviations that the patient had before the start of bearing a child. Some of them are directly related to pregnancy, others are only indirectly related to such a special condition. These include myopia, that is, nearsightedness. If you have vision problems, you need to figure out how this can affect the he alth of the expectant mother and the course of the birth process.
Myopia: what is this disease
Almost every third inhabitant of the planet suffers from myopia, so this disease is very common. More generally, this medical term is known as "nearsightedness". That is, a person sees well objects located near, but poorly distinguishes those that are at some distance. Howas a rule, myopia begins to develop at the age of 7-15, after which it gets worse, or visual acuity remains approximately at the same level.
There are several degrees of severity of myopia. Most often, people have a weak. In this case, visual deviations are manifested only to a slight extent. Violation does not exceed three diopters. This is not even a disease, but a feature of vision. Usually weak myopia does not require correction and can be completely eliminated with the help of special exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the eye.
Medium myopia involves visual impairment ranging from three to six diopters. Signs of the disease are detected at a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist. This may be a narrowing of the vessels of the fiber or changes in the fundus. In severe cases, the violation exceeds six diopters. A person can see only those objects that are in close proximity. Such a disease needs constant correction.
Causes of myopia
Myopia provoke different reasons, so each case must be considered separately. The most common cause is heredity. If both parents suffer from myopia, then it is likely that the disease will manifest itself in the child. With normal vision in both parents, the risk of myopia in a child is only 8%.
Incorrect vision correction can also cause a decrease in its sharpness. If the first manifestations of myopia have already made themselvesknow, but the disease has not been treated in any way or inappropriate contact lenses or glasses have been fitted, then vision may continue to deteriorate. At the same time, the eyes are very tense and myopia develops.
Often the disease appears with prolonged eye strain. Overvoltage is caused by working in low light, improper posture when reading and writing, too much time at the computer or in front of the TV. Many of these problems are triggered by the start of school life, so myopia generally coincides with the time a child starts school.
Main symptoms
Almost the only symptom is a general deterioration in visual acuity. A person sees well objects that are close, but with difficulty distinguishes what is further away. Due to overstrain, frequent headaches, inability to concentrate, deterioration in attention and memory, absent-mindedness, increased arterial or intracranial pressure, nervousness, and so on can be added to this symptom. With proper correction, all side effects usually disappear.
Diagnosis of pathology
Myopia is usually detected during a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist. A vision check is carried out according to the table, an examination of the condition of the fundus, measurements of the length of the eye, the thickness of the cornea at different points. At the first sign of visual impairment, it is necessary to contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible in order to exclude progressive myopia and select the optimal correction.
Correction of myopia
Mild myopia can be corrected unnecessarilycorrections. The patient may be offered laser treatment, which is safe and effective. This procedure can be carried out even during pregnancy. With mild myopia, the situation may be limited to the selection of appropriate contact lenses or glasses.
Possible Complications
Mild myopia during pregnancy is fraught with deterioration of the retina, changes in the curvature of the lens and retinal detachment during childbirth. The latter can lead to hemorrhage into the vitreous body, and as a result - partial or complete loss of vision. But all the complications listed above are typical for severe forms of myopia. With mild myopia of the eyes during pregnancy, you do not need to worry, although it will not be superfluous to play it safe and put your eyes in order.
Risks for pregnant women
Pregnancy, which passes without complications, does not affect visual acuity in any way. But it should be borne in mind that there are pathologies that can have a negative impact on myopia of the first degree during pregnancy and the condition of a woman in the process of bearing a child. With severe toxicosis in the early stages, visual acuity may temporarily decrease by one or two diopters. Puffiness combined with high blood pressure and the presence of protein in urine tests are fraught with pathological changes.
A woman will be advised to visit an ophthalmologist at least twice during pregnancy: at registration and later. In case of complications, observation of the dynamics of the development of myopia in a future mother is shown.
Vision loss during pregnancy
Myopia of moderate degree during pregnancy can develop from weak due to natural changes occurring in the body of the expectant mother. The heart and blood vessels of a pregnant woman experience a special load during this important period. The process is physiologically reversible. Changes are associated with an increase in the intensity of metabolic processes, blood volume, an increase in pulse and pressure due to the formation of fetal blood flow.
Mild (grade I) myopia during pregnancy is complicated by a decrease in the hemodynamics of the eye and an increase in intraocular pressure. The eye receives less nutrition. Significant changes occur both in normal pregnancy and in the case of complications. Doctors divide changes into functional and organic. Functional ones proceed without retinal pathologies, while organic ones are associated with a change in the fundus of the eye. These can be edema and retinal detachment, retinal artery occlusion, hemorrhage.
Impact on child he alth
Prevention of visual impairment begins with the clarification of heredity, the conditions for the course of pregnancy and childbirth, the formation of the fetus in the prenatal period. Myopia in most cases is caused by hereditary predisposition. For successful prevention of ophthalmic disorders in a child, it is necessary to determine the disease in parents and in their families in time. Further actions should be aimed at minimizing the risks for the unborn child.
It is important for a pregnant woman to monitor the condition of herhe alth, take vitamins for expectant mothers and the medicines prescribed by the doctor, walk daily in the fresh air. Women who do not have vision problems also need to consult an ophthalmologist in the early stages of pregnancy, as well as before childbirth.
The laying of the baby's vision occurs from the second month of pregnancy. The main stage of prevention is the creation of the right conditions for building the eye structure of the fetus. This assumes the absence of stress factors in the first six weeks of pregnancy. Severe malformations can provoke bad habits of the expectant mother, taking certain drugs, injuries, illnesses or overheating in the first trimester.
Before the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, the formation of vital organs and structures, including the visual system. At this time, it is also necessary to exclude harmful factors.
Choosing birth method
Myopia during pregnancy is an indication for CS only in severe cases. As a rule, a woman can give birth on her own. If the myopia of the expectant mother is within three diopters, then there is no reason for concern. The same can be said about the average myopia of the eyes during pregnancy (stage II of the disease). The situation changes slightly with severe pathology or complications during pregnancy.
With severe myopia, the decision on the possibility of natural childbirth should be made jointly by a gynecologist and an ophthalmologist. In the absence or minimal degree of pathological changes in the retina (dystrophy), a woman can give birth on her own. But usually thisshortening of the attempts is made by incision of the perineum.
Pregnancy and high myopia with retinal dystrophy is a dangerous combination. In such a situation, the question and method of conducting childbirth is taken on the basis of the recommendation of an ophthalmologist, the size of the woman's pelvis, the estimated weight of the child and other components. Possible planned caesarean section.
The absolute indication for surgical intervention is retinal detachment, which was detected and operated on for a period of 30-40 weeks, or detachment operated earlier. But even in this case, the expectant mother does not need to panic, but just listen to the doctors and their advice.
Birthing technique
Mild myopia during pregnancy is not a contraindication to natural childbirth, but it is important to prepare for this process so that everything goes without complications, including vision. Doctors should instruct the woman in advance about the rules of behavior during childbirth. The main thing during natural childbirth is to push properly. No need to strain your face and close your eyes, all efforts should go to the perineum. Only the muscles of the pelvic floor and abdomen should help the baby to be born. If you strain the muscles of the face, then there will be no help for the baby, but intraocular pressure will increase, due to which the vessels may burst. With mild myopia in pregnant women, this is not so scary, but women with progressive pathology may experience severe bleeding.
Glasses and lenses in the delivery room
When pregnantmyopia of the first degree, angiopathy (grade I) and other visual impairments affect the process of labor management. In most cases, a woman can give birth on her own. But is it possible to give birth in lenses if the patient wears them all the time? On this score, doctors do not have a unanimous opinion. As a rule, doctors ask a woman to remove the lenses, because if urgent surgical intervention is required, then there will be no time to remove the correction agent. And if a woman pushes incorrectly, then the lenses themselves can aggravate the condition of the eyes.
As for glasses, you can take them to the delivery room without any problems. Many feel uncomfortable without correction, even with a slight deterioration in vision, and a woman needs maximum comfort during childbirth.
Problem Prevention
With mild myopia during pregnancy, attention should be paid to preventive measures. A pregnant woman (especially in the first trimester) is contraindicated in heavy physical exertion, stress and nervous experiences, malnutrition, injuries should be avoided and bad habits should be abandoned. You should walk outside daily and take vitamins.
It is recommended to do simple eye he alth exercises. Weak myopia during pregnancy with such prevention may even disappear if the changes are physiological. It is desirable to repeat the complex every day. It is enough to close your eyes as much as possible for five seconds, blink intensively for a minute, make eye movements left and right, up and down, diagonally and in a circle. Suitable Exercisesrecommended by an ophthalmologist.
So, myopia of the 1st degree in a pregnant woman is not dangerous and practically does not affect the method of childbirth. A woman needs to visit an ophthalmologist and get the doctor's recommendations, which it is advisable to follow not only during pregnancy, but also after its logical completion. Most likely, physiological changes during the period of bearing a child will not lead to a deterioration in vision, and mild myopia will not worsen during pregnancy.
