EJMS

Abstract

Background: Glucose intolerance during pregnancy among women without pre-gestational diabetes mellitus is known as Gestational diabetes (GD) that could adversely affect both the baby and the mother. Objective: The aim was to determine the early changes in the central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in GD. Patients and Methods: Forty five women were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. They were divided into 3 groups; each consisted of 15 participants; both eyes were enrolled in the study. Group 1 (control): healthy non-pregnant females, Group 2: healthy pregnant females ≥ 24 weeks of gestation, Group 3 (GD): pregnant females ≥ 24 weeks of gestation that had no systemic disease but GD. All groups were age-matched. CMT and SFCT were measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging mode. Results: In the third trimester, pregnant females with GD had a statistically significant increase in CMT in comparison to control and healthy pregnant groups; whereas SFCT in GD showed similar values to those in healthy non-pregnant females. Conclusion: In the third trimester of pregnancy, GD was associated with significant increase in the macular thickness, suggesting that transient hyperglycemia during pregnancy may cause retinal changes.