Ocular changes occur commonly during pregnancy. Although most of these are benign
physiologic responses to the metabolic, hormonal, and immunologic modifications to adopt
the gestational product, there is some serious pathology that may develop, exacerbate, or
even resolve over the course of pregnancy which requires prompt diagnosis and
management. The pathological eye conditions can be classified into preexisting pathologies
and emerging ocular diseases. Regardless of the different mechanisms by which these
ocular changes occur, the key point is the establishment of an effective perinatal screening
program to monitor the new development or successive progression of these ocular
abnormalities. Irrespective of the visual health status of the pregnant women, regular
perinatal eye examination should be scheduled in order to assure continuous surveillance
of healthy eyes. Treatment of pathologic ocular conditions or functionally disturbing
benign changes relies on an appropriate patient selection.

Conclusions: Discriminating pathological eye disease from physiologic ocular changes is
important in order to establish an individualized treatment or preventive plan and
constitutes the mainstay of obstetric ophthalmology. This individualized approach should
always weigh the ocular benefits of treatment to the mother against the potential harms to
the fetus.

Conference Title

JOPAL 2023 Conference : New Vision in Optometry Practices in 2023

Conference Country

Palestine

Conference Date

March 16, 2023 - March 17, 2023

Conference Sponsor

مجلس البصريات العالمي ونقابة اخصائيي البصريات الفلسطينية والحمعية العامة لمهن البصريات