Pregnancy may be risk factor for keratoconus progression

Cornea. 2011;30(9):991-994.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy may have a negative effect on corneal biomechanics, therefore indicating that pregnancy may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for keratoconus, according to a study.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study showing pregnancy-induced keratoconus progression in patients with no accompanying disease," the researchers wrote.

They evaluated seven eyes of four patients (mean age: 29.3 years) who experienced progression of keratoconus during pregnancy. Mean follow-up was 39 months. Patients who had previous accompanying systemic and ocular diseases associated with keratoconus, uncontrolled atopic disease and eye rubbing were excluded from the study.

After evaluating for changes in refraction, corneal topography and rigid gas-permeable lens fitting pattern, the researchers found that mean increase in spherical equivalent refraction was 1.4 D and mean increase in simulated keratometry values was 1.1 D, according to the study.

"In eyes wearing rigid gas-permeable lenses, increase in corneal apical touch and decrease in the base curve radius of the best-fitting contact lens were observed," the study authors wrote.