Frequency of Optic Refractive Changes during Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of optical refractive changes (myopia, hypermetropia) during third trimester of pregnancy.

Material and method: This cross-sectional study recruited 86 participants who had pregnancy in third trimester of mean age 25 to 40 years of age and who are not diabetic, hypertensive and spectacle users in Eye OPD of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore. Their visual acuity for distance was determined by Snellen chart and Retinoscope. Chi-square was used for the comparison of qualitative variables.

Results: VA and refractive errors are the physiological changes during pregnancy, they are mostly transient and resolved after postpartum. The results of this study showed the frequency of myopia was 91.9% and hypermetropia was 8.1%. So, the myopia was the refractive error that is mostly reported during third trimester of pregnancy with symptoms of blurred vision, headache, itching.

Conclusion: Pregnancy causes refractive error and progressive reduction in visual acuity for distance and there is slight change in visual acuity for near. Myopia was the commonest refractive error during third trimester of pregnancy. The main symptoms reported during third trimester of pregnancy were blurred vision, itching and headache.