Myopia (short-sighted) and vaginal delivery

[Anonymous]

Wow, I too have never heard of this. I wore contacts during my delivery and had no problems.

[Anonymous]

Never heard this. I have severe myopia. Had a homebirth no problem.

FWIW, I did put in my birthplan that I would continue to wear my vision correction, even in the event of a C-section, just in case.

[Anonymous]

Your eyeballs could pop out????!!! Wow! Molly, have you seen this????!!!

[Anonymous]

I have a detatched retina in one eye (18 years now) and I am at least -22.50 diopters in my "good" eye. My retina specialists and glaucoma specialists (yeah I have that too, all by the age of 14. i'm now 24) never saw any problem with pushing. I made sure to ask before ttc. I moved while pregnant and called my retina specialist from home to get his opinion again. He had seen be for 22 years, I trusted him more than anyone when it came to my eyes. He said jumping on a trampoline when I was younger was more dangerous. And that pushing was really only and issues for the eyes with severe diabetics. I saw a high risk dr here who suggested a vaccum delivery, just to be safe. I saw my new eye dr here, he said goig through rem sleep every night was more dangerous for my retina because of the rapid movement. I had my retinas checked multiple times before delivery and four weeks after.

No change. I did push some, but not as much as most. And he was out in maybe 3-4 contractions.

[Anonymous]

I'm also blind as a bat (-10) and no one ever mentioned this to me. Granted, I wear glasses but it all turned out fine, delivered a healthy 8lb 3oz baby. Plus, my uncle is an eye dr and he never discussed this with me.

[Anonymous]

This is a disproven myth.

[Anonymous]

Was never told this. never occurred to me. moderate myopia in one eye, legally blind in the other eye.

[Anonymous]

I heard it too from my doctor....This is what I found on the internet...I think it depends on your eye condition... This explanation below makes sense to me....

"We should to be aware that short-sightedness is not simply infringement in the optical apparatus of an eye, consequently sight afar fails. No, this is infringement in all organism at a level of metabolism processes. Because of infringement of a protein and mineral metabolism of sclera - that retina that holds its round form, weakens and eye is stretched at length getting the wrong pear-shaped form. Most of all suffers thus a back part of an eye. The retina which provides visual perception is also stretched, its function is broken. In heavy cases detachment of retina from a sustentacular tissue or even ruptures are possible. Thus sight is lost. This is the most serious and dangerous complication. When the short-sighted eye is stretched (it is visible at special examination) ophthalmologists say that on fundus of eye is a myopic cone (it is an initial degree of change) or posterior staphyloma (and it already manifestation of developed process). Sight thus is rapidly reduced, the patient does not see even the first line all of the known table for check of visual acuity and experiences difficulty at twilight illumination and in darkness.

It is important to know that miopia alta is contra-indication to a number of professions demanding especially good sight. It limits the person also in private life. Heavy exercise stress, weight-lifting, to stay in position with the lowered head are contra-indicated for such people. For the woman it is a problem of childbirth - natural delivery is excluded, the alternative is cesarean section. "

http://eyecenter.com.ua/en/doctor/discus_club/02.htm

[Anonymous]

I hope this is a myth. I'm also similar in my diopters as some of the other posters, and the thought that I'd be automatically put into a C-section category is horrible.

[Anonymous]

I am -11 and -13, and had a tough vaginal delivery...but no vision problems.

[CherylM]

I’m sure experienced eye doctors would be able to give you the advice you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard it too from my doctor....This is what I found on the internet...I think it depends on your eye condition... This explanation below makes sense to me....

"We should to be aware that short-sightedness is not simply infringement in the optical apparatus of an eye, consequently sight afar fails. No, this is infringement in all organism at a level of metabolism processes. Because of infringement of a protein and mineral metabolism of sclera - that retina that holds its round form, weakens and eye is stretched at length getting the wrong pear-shaped form. Most of all suffers thus a back part of an eye. The retina which provides visual perception is also stretched, its function is broken. In heavy cases detachment of retina from a sustentacular tissue or even ruptures are possible. Thus sight is lost. This is the most serious and dangerous complication. When the short-sighted eye is stretched (it is visible at special examination) ophthalmologists say that on fundus of eye is a myopic cone (it is an initial degree of change) or posterior staphyloma (and it already manifestation of developed process). Sight thus is rapidly reduced, the patient does not see even the first line all of the known table for check of visual acuity and experiences difficulty at twilight illumination and in darkness.

It is important to know that miopia alta is contra-indication to a number of professions demanding especially good sight. It limits the person also in private life. Heavy exercise stress, weight-lifting, to stay in position with the lowered head are contra-indicated for such people. For the woman it is a problem of childbirth - natural delivery is excluded, the alternative is cesarean section. "

http://eyecenter.com.ua/en/doctor/discus_club/02.htm

This research is not from the US - American doctors recommend c-sections for myopia. You should do what you feel comfortable doing, of course, but like one of the PPs, I am inclined to believe that this is a cultural myth.

[Anonymous]

the original post is from 2007!! I am sure she has delivered by now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the original post is from 2007!! I am sure she has delivered by now!

Yes, but did her eyeballs pop out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have NEVER heard of this.

I am -10 and -9 so you don't get much worse off then me.

I had a vaginal delivery and pushed for about 30 minutes, delivered a healthy 7 pound baby WITH contacts on. I've had my eyes checked since then (routine yearly check up) and it was never brought up.

I go to the eye dr. every year, and certainly he would have seen a woman of childbearing age and told me if I was planning on being pregnant I should consider a c-section.

This sounds like a myth to me.

I'm the same prescription!!! Thank God for contacts.

I also delivered a 7.1 pound baby with contacts - vaginal delivery - and plan to do the same this fall. I go to the eye doctor every 18 months or so, you'd think if this were a threat they would be counseling women of childbearing age, but it's never been brought up. I think your body would give you definite signs before you go blind. The nurses (or you) would notice popped vessels or something and have you stop. It sounds strange that you'd just all of a sudden go blind.