Observation of pregnant women by an ophthalmologist: why?

To prevent possible eye complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, it is necessary to check in advance whether everything is in order with the eyes of a pregnant woman.

10-14 weeks of pregnancy is the optimal period for the first visit to an ophthalmologist. Moreover, it is necessary to do this for all expectant mothers, regardless of the presence or absence of complaints or vision problems.

In addition to the usual check, the central and peripheral zones of the fundus must be examined. The European Medical Center has special equipment that makes it possible to assess the condition of the fundus without instilling drops and dilating the pupils.

Sometimes, during the initial examination, tears or gross dystrophic changes in the periphery of the retina may be detected. Moreover, these changes are not always associated with existing myopia and are often found in women with "normal" eyes. In such cases, preventive laser coagulation is performed, in which the retina is "glued" to the underlying tissues. After the procedure, it is necessary to check the condition of the fundus 7-10 days and 6-4 weeks before the expected date of delivery. With reliable blockade of ruptures and degenerations, a conclusion is given about the possibility of independent childbirth.

Can't you give birth? To operate?

During childbirth and in the early postpartum period, the main risk to vision is complications from the retina – its detachment or hemorrhages into the retina and vitreous.

The presence or absence of glasses in a woman in no way determines the type of delivery. And with myopia of 12-14 diopters, women safely give birth on their own. The absolute indication for cesarean section is retinal detachment, detected and operated on during pregnancy, and previously operated retinal detachment in the only sighted eye.

The risk of complications during childbirth is often overestimated. In international practice, it is accepted that if pregnancy proceeds normally, if there are no detachments in the past, and if retinal tears and degenerations are present, laser prophylaxis is performed, a woman can give birth on her own. In some cases, an ophthalmologist may recommend that the labor period be relieved. But of course, the decision on the specific tactics of delivery remains with the obstetrician-gynecologist who monitors the woman and delivers the baby.