Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness During Pregnancy Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography

Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness During Pregnancy Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography

The purpose of this study is to evaluate choroidal thickness and volume during the third trimester of pregnancy by comparison with a group of age-matched non-pregnant healthy group of women

Pregnant women in the last trimester and age-matched healthy controls have an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image taken on the OCT Spectralis® device.

A map of the choroid in the macular area is constructed automatically. Choroidal thickness and volume are calculated for the 9 subfields defined by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS).

A comparative analysis between the two groups will be performed. As a secondary outcome measure, the change in choroidal thickness of the pregnant group of women will be assessed at 6 months postpartum by comparison to the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

The OCT is a non-invasive examination that poses no risk to the mother or the fetus.

Inclusion Criteria:

Pregnant women:

• uncomplicated pregnancy in the third trimester (from 28 weeks of gestation)

For both groups:

• no systemic or ocular disease
• absence of systemic medication other than prenatal vitamins
• no smoking habits
• emmetropia or a small refractive error (spherical equivalent <1.5 diopters)

Exclusion Criteria:

• any of the above