Glaucoma can worsen during pregnancy

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For women with glaucoma, pregnancy usually has no effect on their eye condition, but in some cases it does.

Glaucoma is characterized by increased pressure within the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss or even blindness if it's left untreated.

A study of what researchers call the largest group of pregnant glaucoma patients ever compiled is reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology. "We found that although many glaucoma patients did quite well during pregnancy, some had a significant worsening of their disease," senior investigator Dr. Cynthia L. Grosskreutz told Reuters Health.

Grosskreutz, at Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues studied data on 28 eyes in 15 women followed during pregnancy. Thirteen were taking glaucoma medication, and this appeared to cause no adverse effects.

In 16 of the eyes (57 percent), intraocular pressure was stable and there was no progression of visual field loss. In five eyes, the pressure remained stable or increased and visual field loss progressed. In a further five eyes, pressure increased but there was no progression in vision loss. Data were inconclusive in the remaining two eyes.

"Based on our results," said Grosskreutz, "we recommend that glaucoma patients should be followed carefully during the course of their pregnancies."

"We were encouraged," she concluded, "to find that with appropriate care, the majority of our glaucoma patients did not lose vision over the course of their pregnancies."

SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, August 2006.