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Sight loss during and after pregnancy not talked about, says Epping mum
BBC • • health
Key Points:
- Jodie Akrill, a new mother with type 1 diabetes, experienced sudden vision loss in her right eye due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO) shortly after giving birth, a condition caused by swelling in the macula from leaking blood vessels.
- Akrill had a prior episode of pregnancy-induced maculopathy during her third trimester, highlighting the complex and often unspoken physical changes women face before and after childbirth.
- After receiving laser treatment and injections at Moorfields Eye Hospital, her vision returned to normal, but she emphasizes the need for greater awareness of less common pregnancy-related health issues.
- Experts note that while DMO affects about 7% of diabetic patients, there is limited data on its prevalence in pregnant women, though pregnancy can exacerbate diabetic retinopathy and related eye conditions.
- During her recovery, Akrill co-founded a baby clothing business and balances this with her engineering career and motherhood, underscoring the importance of vision in daily life and long-term aspirations.
