CHOROIDAL THICKNESS, MACULAR THICKNESS, RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER THICKNESS BY OCT IN NON-PREGNANT, PREGNANT AND POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE To evaluate the macular, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness alterations by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in postmenopausal, pregnant and non-pregnant women. PATIENTS AND METHODS A comparative study included a total of 42 eyes (Right eye) of 42 healthy females in the period from march 2019 to September 2019 divided into 3 groups: a) Non pregnant women. b) Pregnant women.c) Postmenopausal women. Each subject underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. Following this detailed ophthalmologic examination, the Rs 3000 Nidek Japan OCT device was used for the assessment choroidal, macular and RNFL Thickness. RESULTS The mean age of non-pregnant females was 29.64 ±3.13, mean age of pregnant females was 28.93 ±3.89 and of postmenopausal women was 53.86 ± 1.75. There was no significant difference in all macular quadrants in the 3 study groups. Choroidal thickness was statistically significant thicker in healthy pregnant females (333.36 ±44.42) than in healthy non pregnant (326.93±31.50) and significantly thinner in healthy post-menopausal women (282.64±28.04) than healthy non pregnant females. There was no significant difference in RNFL thickness between the 3 study groups. CONCLUSION Oct has evolved over the past decade as one of the most important ancillary tests in ophthalmic practice. Pregnancy hormones may lead to an increase in fluid volume in many tissues of the body. There was no statistically significant difference in macular thickness and RNFL thickness between the 3 study groups. Choroidal thickness was statistically significant thicker in healthy pregnant than in healthy non pregnant and significant thinner in healthy post-menopausal women than healthy non pregnant.