Total Macular Volume and Foveal Retinal Thickness Alterations in Healthy Pregnant Women

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate whether there are alterations in total macular volume (TMV) and foveal retinal thickness (FT) values during pregnancy. Methods: This study included 60 healthy pregnant women in their first, second, and third trimester (groups 1, 2, and 3) and 20 nonpregnant women (group 4). TMV and FT values were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in each group. Results: Mean TMV was 1.43 ± 0.56 mm³, 1.88 ± 0.54 mm³, 2.04 ± 0.66 mm³ and 1.35 ± 0.41 mm³ in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Mean FT was 199.20 ± 64.35 µ, 274.35 ± 67.45 µ, 287.95 ± 95.50 µ and 192.100 ± 58.61 µ in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There was statistical significance among group 1–2 (p₁ = 0.014, p₂ = 0.001), group 1–3 (p₁ = 0.003, p₂ = 0.002), group 2–4 (p₁ = 0.001, p₂ = 0.001), and group 3–4 (p₁ = 0.001, p₂ = 0.001) for both TMV and FT, respectively. Conclusion: The increase of fluid in the body, in particular in the second and last trimester, may cause an increase of TMV and FT.

• Foveal thickness
• optical coherence tomography
• pregnancy
• total macular volume