Ocular anterior segment changes in pregnancy

Abstract

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Anterior, posterior and biomechanical parameters of cornea during pregnancy in healthy eyes: a cohort study

“…In a comparative study of 60 pregnant and non-pregnant women, Goldich et al 9 found a significantly lower IOPg and IOPcc during pregnancy. Although they did not find any significant difference in CH, CRF, corneal posterior curvature, CCT, corneal volume, anterior chamber depth and volume or iridocorneal angle between the two groups, the corneal front steep keratometry value was significantly higher in the pregnant group.…”

“…They suggest that hormonal changes during pregnancy may lead to a decreased IOP but an increased corneal curvature and thickness 9. The authors, however, did not acknowledge the pregnancy stage at which they examined the participants for corneal measurements 9. Another study by Efe et al 7 on 50 eyes of 25 healthy women during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy revealed a significant decrease in the IOP which was coupled with a reciprocal increase in CCT over the same time frame.…”

“…Although they did not find any significant difference in CH, CRF, corneal posterior curvature, CCT, corneal volume, anterior chamber depth and volume or iridocorneal angle between the two groups, the corneal front steep keratometry value was significantly higher in the pregnant group. They suggest that hormonal changes during pregnancy may lead to a decreased IOP but an increased corneal curvature and thickness 9. The authors, however, did not acknowledge the pregnancy stage at which they examined the participants for corneal measurements 9.…”

“…The pregnancy-induced physiological changes of the eyes involve both the anterior and posterior ocular segments including changes in corneal thickness, curvature and subsequent refractive errors, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field disturbance, corneal sensitivity and biomechanical properties and temporary contact lens intolerance 4–11. Goldich et al 9 compared 60 pregnant women with the same number of non-pregnant women and found statistically significantly greater anterior corneal curvature and lower IOP in pregnant women but no significant differences in corneal posterior curvature, central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) between the groups. Atas et al 4 reported statistically significantly greater anterior flat and steep keratometry values, CCT, corneal volume, anterior chamber depth, angle and volume and lower IOP during pregnancy compared with 3 months post partum.…”

Changes in choroidal thickness during pregnancy detected by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography

“…To date, mainly anterior segment changes of the eye related to pregnancy have been investigated 5 14. However, most ocular pathologies associated with pregnancy, such as CSC, serous retinal detachment, worsening of diabetic retinopathy, and vascular changes in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, occur in the posterior segment of the eye 4.…”