Purpose:

To investigate, using our national data, the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) that occur in pregnant women and thereby, to determine the possible effect of pregnancy on the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma.

Material and Method:

192 eyes of 98 healthy pregnant women (pregnant group) and 200 eyes of 100 healthy age-matched females (control group) were included in the study. Complete ocular examinations were performed on each eye. IOP measurements were obtained with Goldmann applanation tonometer during pregnancy (first, second and third trimesters) for pregnant cases, and in similar time intervals for control subjects. For each trimester, the mean of three Goldmann IOP readings was recorded. IOP measurements were taken and recorded for each group simultaneously. The patients with previous ocular history and who had chronic disease were excluded from the study.

Results:

The mean visual acuity, keratometry and refractive error of both control and pregnant groups did not change significantly during the study (all p values>0.05).The mean trimester IOPs were measured as 15.33±1.86, 13.82±1.17 and 13.02±1.98 mmHg, respectively. A significant decrease in IOP was observed in pregnant cases during the first, second and third trimesters compared with the healthy women. The difference between control and first, control and second, and control and third trimester groups were found to be 0.33±0.19 mmHg, (p>0.05), 1.84±0.12 mmHg (p<0.05) and 2.64±0.28 mmHg (p<0.05), respectively.

Discussion:

IOP decreased in all trimesters of pregnancy and this decrease in IOP was observed to be significant during the second and the third trimester. The fluctuation and physiologic decrease in IOP should be considered in the monitoring of glaucoma detected during pregnancy or already existing.

Keywords: Glaucoma, intaocular pressure, pregnancy