TJ-CEO
2016 , Vol 11 , Num 2
Pregnancy and Glaucoma
M.D. Professor, Karsıyaka Private Eye Hospital, İzmir/TURKEY
Glaucoma, predominantly a disease of aging, can also affect women of chilbearing age. Physiological changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual fields occur that can influnce glaucoma follow-up. A decrase of about 10% in IOP and less diurnal variation can exert a protective effect of pregnancy on glaucoma. However course of glaucoma is highly variable among patients and glaucoma patients should be followed closely for risk of IOP and visual field changes during pregnancy. During pregnancy the decision to treat glaucoma or not and with which drug should be decided on an individual basis. Considering the ocular hypotensive effect of pregnancy in many women, non-treatment may be an option considering the spesific target IOP for a patient. This can be applied carefully especially when glaucomatous optic neuropathy is not vey advanced and IOP is not very high. Except very advanced cases, it is best to discontinue all drugs in the first trimester during organogenesis. If IOP is unacceptably high, options like topical IOP lowering drugs, laser trabeculopasty or surgical procedures should be considered. If medical therapy is required, antiglaucomatous medications should be used utilising FDA pregnancy guide. In advanced glaucoma, category B and C drugs (alpha agonists, beta blockres and topical carbonic anhydrase enzyme inhibitors) can be given cautiously; however nasolacrimal duct oclusion should be applied in order to decrease systemic absorption.
Keywords :
antiglacomatous drug, glaucoma, intraocular pressure, pregnancy, visual fields