The physiologic and pathologic effects of pregnancy on the human visual system

Abstract

Pregnancy is a normal state of physiological stress that induces significant changes in the human body, some of which can potentially affect the visual system. The pregnant state may exacerbate pre-existing ocular disorders (i.e. diabetic retinopathy or central serous retinopathy). Moreover, other systemic conditions related to pregnancy can induce ophthalmic disorders affecting the retina and the choroid, some of which are of acute nature. Increasing awareness and improving collaboration between ophthalmologists, obstetricians and internists can play a pivotal role in the management of complex conditions during pregnancy. Special attention should be given while prescribing medications or deciding about other diagnostic or therapeutic techniques. The purpose of this review is to summarise the physiologic and pathologic effects of pregnancy in the eyes, highlighting the most acute clinical entities that may be threatening for the vision or even the life of the mother and her baby.

Keywords:

• Pregnancy
• pregnancy outcomes
• ophthalmology
• visual system
• ocular disorders
• retina

Acknowledgements

We have no acknowledgements to be mentioned. All authors declare that they received no funding for this study.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Copyright statement

Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos, The Corresponding Author, has the right to assign on behalf of all authors and does assign on behalf of all authors, a full assignment of all intellectual property rights for all content within the submitted study in any media known now or created in the future, and permits this study (if accepted) to be published and to be fully exploited within the remit of the assignment as set out in the assignment which has been read.