Nov 17, 2011  •  In Aerin, Personal, Pregnancy

Wherein I Discover Another By-Product of Pregnancy…Two Weeks After Giving Birth

Yesterday, I broke out of my month-long confinement in order to visit the optometrist. J still disapproved of my leaving the house, but I was running dangerously low on my contact lenses and I was not able to order them online since it had been more than a year since my last eye exam.

(On the subject of contact lenses, I *heart* my current brand: Proclear 1 Day daily disposables. Not only are they so much more convenient than regular contacts and even regular 2-week disposables, they’re sooo much more comfortable too. And no, neither Proclear nor Cooper Vision know that I exist.)

Stare into a picture of a green pasture and a red barn as the machine whirls and estimates my vision. Check. Have puffs of air shot into my eyes. Check. Read minuscule series of letters while repeatedly answering the question, “Which is better: 1 or 2?” Check.


(image source)

Then the doc delivered the bad news. My vision, while having had stayed the same for the past three years, had suddenly significantly grown WORSE in the past year:

Left Eye:
-4.00 to -4.75

Right Eye:
-3.50 to -4.25 

He explained that vision changes during pregnancy is not uncommon, and that while in most cases, the changes are minor and even reversible, a remarkable worsening of eyesight such as mine is usually permanent.

Crap. And here I was, expecting the same prescription as the three years prior so that I can easily order my replacement contacts online. (Walgreens.com is having a big sale on contacts right now!) Instead, I will need to return later this week to ensure my new prescription isn’t too strong, and in a few months to make sure my eyesight hasn’t changed again. Also, I will need to get new lenses for my glasses as well.

Thanks, Aerin. You’ve really done a number on mommy’s body. (But I still love you to death, you stinky butt!)

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10 Responses to “Wherein I Discover Another By-Product of Pregnancy…Two Weeks After Giving Birth”

  1. Mary says:

    I wish I was still in the negative four range. I’m at least -7.0 in both eyes. Literally blind that when I drop my glasses behind the bed or sofa, the husbands has to go dig for them because I just can’t see!

  2. MrsW says:

    Oh Mary, I’m with you… -7.0 and -7.25. Been that way since 16 or so, so thankfully pregnancy did not make my eyes worse because there would have been nowhere to go!
    What did happen is that I now have extremely dry eyes and cannot wear contacts anymore… which makes life simpler/faster but I have still not replaced my glasses that I got as my contact backup (i.e. UGLY). Scared about dragging my two year old down to the optometrist while I’m fitted…

  3. Rachael says:

    My eyesight changed when I was pregnant, and I would have trouble focusing. But it went back. The crazy things pregnancy does to us!

  4. T says:

    My prescription hasnt changed for a while luckily, i just pick up a ton of contacts whenever i am in asia. Its so much cheaper and they are the exact same brands.

    Glasses are even better, I have ordered my last 2 pairs of glasses from China (i wouldn’t order contacts from there) for ~$20 shipped!

  5. Brooke says:

    Wow, looks like your readers are all blind as bats! I’m super jealous of your -4’s. I’m at -9.75. Yup. Almost legally blind! I’m really nervous to go to the optometrist now, because it’s likely they’ve gotten worse. Someday I’ll be cool and get lasik. It’s on my wish list!

  6. Suzan says:

    That’s quite a change in your prescription! Did you notice blurry vision out of your old contacts? Also, make sure it’s not related to high blood sugar, which can also cause a temporary increase in myopia.

    • I suspected that my vision had changed, because the last time I was at a doctor’s office I had some trouble reading the smaller letters…but I had no idea it was this drastic. As for the blood sugar, my blood sugar levels have always been on the lower end of normal, even throughout the pregnancy, so I’m not too worried about that. Thanks!

  7. Juliette says:

    Just had my first eye test since giving birth and was amazed that my eyes which have been the same since I was a teenager have improved by about 0.5 each. Now have to decide whether to get new lenses for my glasses as unlike you I can obviously still use my current glasses. Really interesting – had no idea it could be pregnancy-related!

  8. Alice says:

    I agree with Brooke on all of us being blind as bats! LOL!! I’m at -11 in my right and -10.75 in my left. 🙁

  9. Nicole Robbins says:

    Wow, everyone sees the pasture and red barn?! I thought that was just my doctor!

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