Let's understand what causes this, why it matters, and what you can do to feel better.
In this article:
What Changes in Your Eyes During Pregnancy?
- When you're expecting, your hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, significantly increase. These hormones support your baby's growth, but they also impact your eyes in ways you might not feel immediately. What do you encounter?
- There’s a change in your tear quality
- Reduced tear production
- Increased light sensitivity
- Slight changes in vision
- Puffiness or water retention around the eyes
Why Do You Experience Screen Sensitivity or Dryness?
There are multiple reasons behind the sudden sensitivity in your eyes, particularly when you use a screen for work, communication, or entertainment.What Roles Do Hormones Play for Dry Eyes?
Hormones can directly affect the tear-producing glands. Tear production may drop by 20 to 30% for some expectant mothers. When your eye surface becomes dry, you might encounter:
- Redness
- Burning sensation
- Grittiness
- Watering
- Blurry vision
Can Swelling or Fluid Retention Impact Eye Comfort?
Yes. Just as your feet or hands swell during pregnancy, fluid retention can also impact the tissues surrounding your eyes. Tissue puffiness can:
- Mess with usual tear drainage
- Put additional pressure on your tear ducts
- Cause pressures, heaviness, or tiredness
Of course. When you use a laptop or phone, your blink rate drops by nearly 60%. Blinking spreads tears evenly across your eyes.
- Less blinking can cause:
- Increased dryness
- More sensitivity to light
- Quick evaporation of tears
During pregnancy, some individuals develop heightened sensitivity or momentary allergies. This can cause:
- Redness
- Itching
- Watery eyes
- Irritation due to dust or light
What Are the Alarming Symptoms?
You might experience:- Difficulty focusing
- Burning sensation or dryness
- Sensitivity to light
- Eyes feeling tired
- Eye pressure while using the phone or laptop
- Watering after a long time of dryness
- Headaches after staring at the screen for too long
When Should You Worry?
Dry eyes are usually no big deal, but see a doctor if you get:- Vision blurriness
- Pain that lasts long or is really bad
- Headaches that keep coming back
- Halos around lights
- Swelling on one side
- Struggle to open your eyes due to dryness
What Can You Do About Dry or Sensitive Skin?
What You Should Do Regularly?- Follow the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Blink more frequently during screen time
- Increase text size to reduce eye pressure
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moisturized
- Drink lots of water in the last few months of pregnancy, it really helps
- Try not to sit right under an AC vent or fan; it can dry your eyes out
- If they do get dry, ask your doctor about using artificial tears
- Reduce your screen brightness to comfort your eyes
Pregnancy already overwhelms you with emotional and physical changes. Prolonged eye discomfort can make the journey more difficult. You can:
- Take frequent breaks during work
- Share screen-heavy tasks with your partner
- Discuss what's bothering you instead of ignoring it
- Ask for help during days when your eyes feel more sensitive
- Keep tabs on the discomfort your eyes get when you’re looking at screens
- Keep your surroundings well-lit to reduce glare
- Don’t use a mobile or a laptop unnecessarily
- Eat wholesome meals throughout the day
- Use eye drops that your doctor says are okay
- Schedule an eye check-up if things don’t improve
What’s the Role of Emotional Well-being?
Eye discomfort might not seem like a big deal, but it can really give you hard days. If you’re doing housework, professional work, or looking after family, dry eyes can make things harder. Taking care of yourself is key when you’re pregnant. Taking breaks, seeking support, and keeping your eyes on rest doesn’t make you weak. It just means you care a lot about yourself and the life growing inside you.It’s pretty common to get dry eyes or be extra sensitive to screens when you’re pregnant. Usually, it’s just due to hormone changes, staring at the screen for a long time, and less tear production. If you get exactly what’s going on and make simple lifestyle modifications, you can stay relaxed and keep your eyes safe. But if things get bad or don’t get better, it’s better to see an eye specialist.
Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.
FAQs on Why Your Eyes Feel Dry or Sensitive to Screens During Pregnancy
- Can pregnancy cause permanent dry eyes?
In the majority of cases, dry eyes are temporary and get cured after delivery. Only in rare cases do symptoms persist for a long time. - Are eye drops safe to use during pregnancy?
Many lubricating drops are safe, but you must always consult a doctor before using any medication during pregnancy. - Does screen use harm your baby during pregnancy?
No, screen use doesn't harm the baby. However, it might increase your eye pressure and dryness, so moderation is important.
