Eye Changes and Risk of Ocular Medications during Pregnancy and their Management

Abstract

 Purpose: To review various eye changes during pregnancy and potential risks of eye medications to the mother and her fetus.

Methods and Materials: We performed a literature search through internet using the medical search headings, effect of pregnancy in eyes, ocular changes in pregnancy, eye medication in pregnancy. We also performed a manual search using references from these articles, review articles and standard text books and manufacturers product advice.

Data extraction: All relevant articles including the original articles, review papers, case studies, and relevant book chapters were extracted and reviewed.

Conclusion: Little has been published to evaluate the eye changes in pregnancy. Eye changes in pregnancy are a well established entity in the field of ophthalmology. The risk of giving ophthalmic medicines to pregnant woman is low. The effects of pregnancy on the eyes and there management are reviewed in this article.

Key words: fetus, ocular changes, ophthalmic medications, physiological eye changes, pathological eye changes, pregnancy.