Seeing the Light

I finally found a physical upside to having given birth to two children: My vision has improved since my son was born 8 months ago.

 I just had a check-up with Dr. Stephen Flemke, an optometrist who practices locally at Cockeysville Opticians on Cranbrook Road. After putting my eyes through their paces with a succession of questions to determine which set of lenses offered a better view, he concluded that all the squinting I’ve been doing lately isn’t because I needed a stronger prescription. It is actually because I need a weaker one, mostly likely because a woman’s vision can change as a result of pregnancy.

 It turns out that around half of all women will experience changes in their vision for better or worse during or after pregnancy, caused by all the hormonal changes that take place throughout those nine months and beyond. From what I’ve read, a mom’s vision tends to stop changing several months after her baby is born, so it’s a good idea to wait a little while before having an eye exam and buying new glasses or contact lenses.

 Having two kids has taken its toll on my body. I’m fatter than I was before I became a mom three years ago. Yes, there are stretch marks. And my hair got thinner after each child was born. So I am grateful for this one minor improvement.