Changes in choroidal thickness during pregnancy detected by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography

Aim To compare the choroidal thickness measurements of healthy pregnant women obtained in the first trimester with measurements obtained in the third trimester using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods 54 eyes of 27 healthy pregnant women and 50 eyes of 25 age matched healthy women were enrolled in this observational, cross-sectional study. The pregnant women underwent two OCT scans, one in the first trimester at gestational weeks 6-8, and the other during the third trimester at gestational weeks 32-37; the control group had OCT scanning during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, using the enhanced depth imaging mode. Choroidal thicknesses were measured at the fovea, at three locations nasal, and at three locations temporal to the fovea at 500m intervals. Results The choroidal thickness measurements obtained in the third trimester were significantly decreased in all measured points in both eyes compared to the measurements obtained in the first trimester (p<0.05). At the fovea, the mean (SD) choroidal thickness measured in the first trimester was 349.22 +/- 82.11m in the right eyes and 341.30 +/- 85.22m in the left eyes, which decreased to 333.56 +/- 76.61m in the right eyes (p=0.014) and 326.93 +/- 75.84m in the left eyes (p=0.024) in the third trimester. Although not statistically significant, choroidal thicknesses of the control group were less than the choroidal thicknesses of the pregnant women (p>0.05). Conclusions Choroidal thickness was found to be significantly decreased in healthy pregnant women during the third trimester compared to the first trimester. This finding can provide valuable information when interpreting pregnancy related ocular disorders.