American Journal of Ophthalmology
American Journal of Ophthalmology
4 years ago

Pregnancy-induced changes in corneal biomechanics and topography are thyroid hormone related

To identify biomechanical and topographical changes of the cornea during pregnancy and the postpartum period and its association to hormonal changes. Design Prospective single-center observational cohort study. Methods Participants: 24 pregnant women (48 eyes), monitored throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Biomechanical and topographical corneal properties were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and a Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam HR) each trimester and 1 month after delivery. At the same consultations blood plasma levels of estradiol (E2) and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3t, T4t) were also determined. A factorial MANOVA was used to detect interactions between hormonal plasma levels and ocular parameters. Results Significant differences in corneal biomechanical and topographical parameters were found during pregnancy in relation to T3t (p=0.01), T4t (p<0.001), T3t/T4t (p=0.001) and TSH (p=0.001) plasma levels. E2 plasma levels (p=0.092) and time-period of measurement (p=0.975) did not significantly affect corneal parameters. TSH levels significantly affected the maximal keratometry reading (p=0.036), the vertical keratometry (p=0.04) reading and the index of height asymmetry (p=0.014). Those results persist after excluding hypothyroidism patients from the statistical analysis. Conclusions Hormonal changes affecting corneal biomechanics and topography during pregnancy could be thyroid-related. Dysthyroidism may directly influence corneal biomechanics and represents a clinically relevant factor that needs further investigation. Highlights Thyroid hormones may affect corneal shape and biomechanical properties more than estrogen.

Publisher URL: www.sciencedirect.com/science

DOI: S0002939417304245

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