GLAUCOMA AND PREGNANCY - LITERATURE-REVIEW WITH CASE-REPORT

Background Intraocular pressure usually decreases during pregnancy. Pr egnancy-related physiological changes do not seem to cause progression of glaucoma. Patient and methods The literature regarding glaucoma, o cular hypertension and pregnancy indexed in Medline(TM) is reviewed. I n addition, we report on a 35-year-old patient with ocular hypertensio n and a known glaucoma family history, who was thoroughly examined bef ore, during and after pregnancy (visual fields, optic disc measurement s, 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 (,,ErIanger flicker-test' ', pattern-reversal-ERG, blue-yellow-VEP) did not deteriorate. Intraoc ular pressure was reduced by 7 mm Hg during and 2 months after pregnan cy. Systolic and diastolic blood velocity of the ophthalmic artery mea sured by dopplersonography was increased by 60% during pregnancy. Conc lusions According to present knowledge pregnancy is associated with de creased intraocular pressure and does not seem to constitute a risk fa ctor for progression of ocular hypertension or primary open angle glau coma. Whether antiglaucomatous drug therapy during pregnancy is necess ary awaits further evaluation.