• Emine Sen, Yüksel Onaran, Pinar Nalcacioglu-Yuksekkaya, Ufuk Elgin, and Faruk Ozturk.
• 1 Ulucanlar Eye Research Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
• Eur J Ophthalmol. 2014 May 1; 24 (3): 314-9.

PurposeTo evaluate the variation in biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness (CCT) for each trimester during pregnancy and to compare the values with those in nonpregnant women.MethodsWe prospectively studied the eyes of 32 pregnant and 34 age-matched non-pregnant women. The parameters included corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal-compensated IOP measured by the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). The CCT was also measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter attached to the ORA.ResultsThe mean age was 27.0 ± 3.8 years in the study group and 28.0 ± 4.1 years in the control group. The mean CH measurement was 10.6 ± 1.4 mmHg in the study group and 10.1 ± 1.3 mmHg in the control group. The mean CRF value was 9.6 ± 1.7 mmHg in the study group and 10.0 ± 1.4 mmHg in the control group. The mean CCT value was 541.1 ± 22.4 µm in the study group and 536.5 ± 27.1 µm in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found regarding CH, CRF, or CCT values between the 2 groups (independent t test, p = 0.160, p = 0.355, p = 0.450, respectively).ConclusionsHormonal changes during pregnancy may not affect corneal biomechanics. This may be due to the balanced effect of the various hormones on the cornea during pregnancy.

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