Pregnancy-induced Bilateral Corneal Oedema
Abstract
This report is of a 20-year-old woman with pregnancy-induced bilateral corneal oedema causing significant visual loss. The patient presented at 37 weeks of gestation with decreased vision and redness in both eyes. She also had pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyrotoxicosis, and rheumatic heart disease with mitral regurgitation. She was treated conservatively with tear substitutes. Following delivery, there was a dramatic decrease in corneal oedema and improvement in visual acuity. Oestrogen receptors have been demonstrated in corneal tissues, and the water-retaining property of oestrogen in tissues is well known. Pregnancyinduced increase in corneal thickness is known, but diffuse epithelial oedema has not been reported. This report highlights the importance of hormone-induced changes in the cornea during pregnancy.
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