title: [Glaucoma and pregnancy--review of the literature with a case report].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraocular pressure usually decreases during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related physiological changes do not seem to cause progression of glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature regarding glaucoma, ocular hypertension and pregnancy indexed in Medline is reviewed. In addition, we report on a 35-year-old patient with ocular hypertension and a known glaucoma family history, who was thoroughly examined before, during and after pregnancy (visual fields, optic disc measurements, 24-hours tension profile, sense physiology ["Erlanger flicker-test", pattern-reversal-ERG, blue-yellow-VEP], ocular perfusion).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual fields and optic disc measurements did not become worse during pregnancy. Also the other sensory parameters ("Erlanger flicker-test", pattern-reversal-ERG, blue-yellow-VEP) did not deteriorate. Intraocular pressure was reduced by 7 mm Hg during and 2 months after pregnancy. Systolic and diastolic blood velocity of the ophthalmic artery measured by dopplersonography was increased by 60% during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to present knowledge pregnancy is associated with decreased intraocular pressure and does not seem to constitute a risk factor for progression of ocular hypertension or primary open angle glaucoma. Whether antiglaucomatous drug therapy during pregnancy is necessary awaits further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cursiefen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jünemann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology