title: Corneal biomechanical parameters during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the variation in biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness (CCT) for each trimester during pregnancy and to compare the values with those in nonpregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied the eyes of 32 pregnant and 34 age-matched non-pregnant women. The parameters included corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal-compensated IOP measured by the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). The CCT was also measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter attached to the ORA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 27.0 ± 3.8 years in the study group and 28.0 ± 4.1 years in the control group. The mean CH measurement was 10.6 ± 1.4 mmHg in the study group and 10.1 ± 1.3 mmHg in the control group. The mean CRF value was 9.6 ± 1.7 mmHg in the study group and 10.0 ± 1.4 mmHg in the control group. The mean CCT value was 541.1 ± 22.4 µm in the study group and 536.5 ± 27.1 µm in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found regarding CH, CRF, or CCT values between the 2 groups (independent t test, p = 0.160, p = 0.355, p = 0.450, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hormonal changes during pregnancy may not affect corneal biomechanics. This may be due to the balanced effect of the various hormones on the cornea during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Ulucanlar Eye Research Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onaran
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nalcacioglu-Yuksekkaya
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Elgin
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D055815:Young Adult