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Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness during Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Longitudinal Study
Yousef Alizadeh1, Zahra Moravvej2, Reza Soltani-Moghadam1, Maryam Dourandeesh1, Mitra Akbari1, Ebrahim Azaripour1, Abdolreza Medghalchi1, Ziba Zahiri Sorouri3, Zahra Motaghinia4
1 Department of Eye, Eye Research Center, Amiralmomenin Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
2 Department of Eye, Eye Research Center, Amiralmomenin Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht; Department of Ophthalmology, Hakim Hospital, Neyshabour University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabour, Iran
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
4 Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Correspondence Address:
Zahra Moravvej
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/joco.joco_42_22
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Purpose: To assess the longitudinal changes of choroidal thickness using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) during pregnancy and postpartum.
Methods: The study included 23 eyes of 23 healthy pregnant women and 23 eyes of 23 healthy nonpregnant women. Choroidal thickness was measured manually with EDI-OCT at seven locations: The fovea, 500, 1000, and 1500 μm temporal (T) from the fovea and 500, 1000, and 1500 μm nasal (N) from the fovea. Measurements were obtained at each pregnancy trimester and 6 weeks postpartum and in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle for the control group.
Results: The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 410.2 ± 82.4 μm, 434.8 ± 79.6 μm, 433.5 ± 80.3 μm, and 395.0 ± 71.1 μm in the first, second, and third trimesters and 6 weeks postpartum, respectively. In all seven measured locations, statistically significant changes were noted during pregnancy and postpartum in the choroidal thickness (P < 0.001). Choroidal thickness increased from the first trimester to the second and third trimester, after which it decreased at postpartum. Choroidal thickness was greater in the pregnant group during pregnancy and postpartum compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: This study indicated significant change in choroidal thickness at seven locations measured with EDI-OCT throughout pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery. We showed that 6 weeks after delivery, choroidal thickness remains significantly higher than nonpregnant subjects.
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