CHANGES IN CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS IN HEALTHY PREGNANT WOMEN-A CLINICAL STUDY

Aim of the Study: To determine the changes in central corneal thickness during pregnancy in healthy pregnant women.

Methods: 50 pregnant women aged between 25 years to 35 years, not suffering from refractive errors and with no prior history of Kerato-refractive procedures and not suffering from any medical or surgical complications of pregnancy, attending to the OPD of OBG Department of King George Hospital-Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam were included in our study. Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) was measured in all these 50 pregnant women with a hand held portable automated corneal Pachymeter. CCT measurements were made in the first, second, third trimesters and also after a period of 3 months from date of delivery.

Results: The mean CCT was found to be significantly higher in the second and third trimesters, compared with the first trimester and at a period of 3 months postpartum (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The CCT value was significantly higher in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.CCT is an important factor to be considered while measuring Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP). The IOP measurements in pregnant women should always be corrected for CCT thereby preventing false high or low recordings of IOP.The target IOP should be carefully decided after taking into consideration the changes in CCT values in pregnant women with glaucoma.The changes in CCT during pregnancy should be kept in mind while performing any refraction or corneal topography studies during pregnancy.