'Like a light switch - I woke up and couldn't see'

Jodie Akrill had been a mum for four months when she woke unable to see out of her right eye. She said her vision felt like looking out of a car window on a rainy day.

"[It was] like a light switch - I just woke up and I couldn't see."

This wasn't the first time. In her third trimester the 34-year-old temporarily lost her central vision in her right eye due to pregnancy-induced maculopathy.

Akrill, from Epping, believes there are so many changes that happen to a woman's body before and after giving birth that are not spoken about.

The condition affects the macula which is the small, central part of the retina at the back of the eye responsible for the detailed central vision that helps with reading and driving.

It was 2025 and Akrill, who has type 1 diabetes, went to Moorfields Eye Hospital's A&E in London, where she was diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema (DMO), which is swelling in the macula caused by leaking blood vessels due to pre-existing diabetes.

At her first follow-up appointment, Akrill received laser treatment followed by injections over several months to relieve fluid and pressure build-up.

Vision in her right eye is back to normal.

About 80% of pregnant women experience morning sickness, according to the NHS.

Other common pregnancy symptoms include headaches, pelvic pain, swollen ankles, feet and fingers and vaginal bleeding.

But Akrill said more should be done to warn women about the less well-known side effects of pregnancy.

"The first week after giving birth there were a lot of things that happened to me that aren't really spoken about," she said.

She also experienced hair loss and oestrogen problems after giving birth.

"What surprised me is that it is ongoing for such a long time afterwards."

Sharon Heng, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: "In the general population, DMO affects approximately 7% of patients diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

"There is no current epidemiological data on the exact proportion of DMO amongst pregnant women."

However, the existing diabetic retinopathy condition can worsen with pregnancy and it might worsen DMO during the pregnancy, she added.

Tommy's, a charity for pregnancy and baby care, said eyesight can change a lot during pregnancy.

Sometimes hormone changes can affect eyes but the charity said that women should always speak to a healthcare professional about any vision changes or eye problems in pregnancy.

During Akrill's recovery, she feared she would never be able to return to her corporate career, working as a chartered chemical engineer, so she and her husband launched a baby clothing company.

She now combines that with her day job and looking after her son.

"I'm not one to just sit there and accept my fate," she said.

"I'm thrilled that my right eye is now back to normal. My experience is a reminder of how precious sight is.

"Everything in my life revolves around it, watching my son grow and thrive, managing everyday activities and a future career."

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.