What should pregnant women do if they have eye allergies? Here are 4 solutions

The eyes are a very fragile part, so we need to protect them well. So, what should pregnant women do if they have eye allergies?

What to do if pregnant women have eye allergies

1. Stay away from allergens

Expectant mothers who are allergic to pollen or have a sensitive constitution will experience symptoms such as red, swollen and itchy eyes when the seasons change from spring to autumn. If this is the case, they should immediately stay away from allergens.

Of course, some expectant mothers suffer from eye allergies due to the use of inferior cosmetics. In this case, they should stop using those inferior cosmetics immediately.

2. Acupoint massage

When expectant mothers have allergic and itchy eyes, they can relieve the discomfort by massaging the acupoints.

Massage method: First press the Chengqi point under the eyes, and then gradually move to the Tou Linqi point at the hairline. If the eye allergy is severe enough to affect the brain's thinking, you can press the Tou Linqi point for a longer time.

Acupuncture point location:

Tou Linqi Point: Located below the eyelid, about 1 cm inward from the hairline on the forehead.

Chengqi Point: Located on the edge of the bone just below the eye.

3. Apply ointment

If expectant mothers have red, swollen and itchy eyes due to allergies, they can also apply ointments to relieve itching and swelling, such as erythromycin eye ointment, cyproheptadine hydrochloride cream, etc.

Note: Generally, topical ointments contain hormones, some of which may have adverse effects on the baby. Therefore, pregnant women must use them under the guidance of a doctor to avoid using drugs that are contraindicated for pregnant women.

4. Take anti-allergy drops

Allergic conjunctivitis can cause itchy eyes, congestion and swelling, and increased eye mucus. For pregnant women with eye allergies caused by this condition, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment. Mild symptoms can be cured by using anti-allergic eye drops, but you should pay attention to the frequency and time of eye drops. In severe cases, steroid eye drops and oral medications are generally used, which requires strict guidance from a doctor.

What changes will occur in the eyes of pregnant women during pregnancy

1. Tears become thicker

About 90% of tears are water, which can moisten the entire upper tissue of the eye and the cornea. During pregnancy, the hormone levels of pregnant women change, which causes the water in the tears to evaporate more easily than before pregnancy. The tears will also become thicker, and its function of protecting the cornea and conjunctiva of the eyes will be weakened, which can easily cause symptoms of "dry eyes".

2. Reduced corneal sensitivity

In the early stages of pregnancy, the sensitivity of the cornea will decrease, which will affect the corneal reflex and the function of protecting the eyeball. Tears are not enough to protect the eyes, so the eyes are prone to symptoms such as redness, fatigue and foreign body sensation.

3. The curvature of the cornea changes

Studies have shown that the curvature of the cornea becomes steeper during pregnancy, especially in the late stages of pregnancy. When the curvature of the cornea becomes steeper, there will be a slight refractive error of 0.25 to 1.25 diopters, and things will be blurry or unclear. In addition, for pregnant women who are already nearsighted, the thickness of the cornea will continue to thicken as the pregnancy progresses, and the refractive power of the eyes will continue to increase. Therefore, the glasses they usually wear cannot correct their vision well, but in most cases, they can recover about 6 weeks after delivery.

4. Blocked blood vessels in the eye

During pregnancy, changes in blood circulation and blood composition make the blood prone to clotting, which may cause retinal artery or vein obstruction.

How should pregnant women protect their eyes?

1. Eat a balanced diet and take more foods containing vitamin A, C, etc.

Yellow-orange foods, such as citrus foods, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupes, bananas and other yellow and green foods. These foods contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which have the function of protecting the eyes. Examples include avocado, mustard greens, corn, cucumber (with skin), tender peas, green peppers, yellow peppers, honeydew melon, kiwi, spinach, etc.

If your eyes are dry, you can take deep-sea fish oil, foods containing omega-3 and other nutrients.

2 Myopia surgery is not recommended during pregnancy

Because the cornea and lens have more water, the degree is different from the original, which can easily cause errors in the degree of surgery. Also, due to pregnancy, it takes longer to recover after surgery. 3. Reduce the time spent reading, watching TV and using the computer

If expectant mothers watch TV or sit too close to the computer or face it for too long, not only will their eyes feel uncomfortable, but the radiation is also not good for the fetus, so it is best to take a 10-minute break every 30 minutes. Especially during pregnancy, the eyes are prone to fatigue, so you should look into the distance more often and take more rest to reduce the discomfort of sore or dry eyes.

4. Wash your hands often

Do not rub your eyes with your hands to reduce corneal scratches and infections.

5. Strengthen sun protection

Because sunlight can accelerate the formation of pregnancy spots and also damage the eyes, you must do a good job of sun protection.

6 Other tips for eye care

Try not to stay up late or reverse your day and night schedule.

Keep a glass of water nearby when using air conditioning to prevent the room from becoming too dry.

Don't stay outside in dry heat for too long.

Reduce the use of hair dryers.

Avoid smoking to reduce the discomfort of dry eyes.

Apply hot compress to your eyes 3 to 4 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes each time, paying attention to the cleanliness of the eyelid edges.

Why do pregnant women have dry eyes?

During pregnancy, many pregnant women feel that their eyes are dry, which is actually suffering from "dry eye syndrome". Dry eye syndrome is manifested by changes in the composition or amount of tears, which cannot lubricate the eyes properly. This can cause burning, itching, sensitivity to light, dryness, sand in the eyes, or excessive tears.

Pregnant women with dry eyes can develop as a result of hormonal changes, which are quite common during pregnancy, but can also occur while breastfeeding, while taking birth control pills, or after menopause. It can occur when the composition or amount of tears changes, so they can no longer lubricate the eyes properly. This can cause burning, itching, sensitivity to light, dryness, a feeling of sand in the eyes, or too much tears.

During pregnancy, dry eyes may seem to only occur occasionally during the day, but for some women, it can be severe and painful. If you wear contact lenses, you may find them very uncomfortable and find it difficult to keep them on. If you are pregnant and have dry eyes, it is best to see an eye doctor. An eye exam should confirm whether you have other eye health problems and whether you have ulcers or infections in your eyes.