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

Healthy pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy