title: [Changes in intraocular pressure during pregnancy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to define physiological changes in intraocular pressure during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  182 healthy pregnant women were examined cross-sectionally throughout the pregnancy. After measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure full ophthalmological examination was performed (visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination and fundus exam). All subjects were free from any systemic or ocular diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraocular pressure significantly decreased during successive stages of pregnancy. The results are presented as means SD. In the control group mean IOP was 15.6 +/- 1.81 mmHg. During first ten weeks of pregnancy mean IOP was 15.33 +/- 1.98 mmHg, between 11-20 hbd was 14.52 +/- 2.37 mmHg, between 21-30 hbd was 13.47 +/- 2.19 mmHg, and towards the end of pregnancy (31-40 hbd) was 12.5 +/- 1.96 mmHg. The mean fall of IOP during whole pregnancy was 3.1 +/- 0.38 mmHg (p < 0.001). In these subjects pregnancy decreased IOP by 19.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed a gradual, statistically significant fall of intraocular pressure during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Okulistyki Instytutu Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki w Lodzi.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilas-Pomykalska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luczak
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czajkowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oszukowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*