Effects of pregnancy on keratoconus
Why managing progressive keratoconus during pregnancy can be a challenge
Keratoconus is a bilateral, noninflammatory, and often asymmetric condition that leads to progressive thinning and steepening of the cornea. This corneal irregularity may lead to blurry and distorted vision.
Although the exact cause of keratoconus remains unknown, it is thought to occur due to a combination of genetic, environmental (eg, trauma from eye rubbing and hard contact lens wear, oxidative stress, etc) and hormonal factors, and affects females slightly more than males.1,2 The onset of keratoconus typically occurs during puberty, with progression greatest in younger individuals. The condition typically stabilizes by the fourth decade of life.3
An ocular examination will reveal signs of keratoconus, including irregular or high astigmatism, and changes to the corneal appearance such as thinning, striae, and scarring. Noninvasive testing to monitor corneal curvature and thickness includes corneal topography or tomography, pachymetry, and ocular coherence tomography (OCT).
This equipment is used to help diagnose and monitor the progression of keratoconus. If there are any signs of progression, corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) may be considered. CXL uses ultraviolet light and a photosensitizer, most commonly ophthalmic riboflavin (vitamin B2), with the primary goal of strengthening chemical bonds in the cornea to stabilize the cornea and decrease risk of keratoconus progression.
For more advanced keratoconus with poor contact lens tolerance, other surgical inventions— including intrastromal corneal ring segments and corneal transplantation—may be considered. Hormonal changes, such as increases in estrogen during pregnancy, are known to affect all organ systems in the body, including the eyes.4 Estrogen receptors have been found on the cornea, with an increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy resulting in reduced corneal stiffness. In addition, an increase in enzymatic proteins called matrix metalloproteinases in keratoconus during pregnancy may lead to decreased stiffness as well. In normal eyes, reduced cornea stiffness has no effect in steepening. However, in keratoconus, this may result in increased steepening and decreased corneal sensation and thickness.5
Results from 1 study comparing changes in pregnant women with keratoconus and nonpregnant women with keratoconus showed that the condition in pregnant women may progress during pregnancy and continue into the postpartum period.6 Cases have been reported of unrecognized keratoconus prior to pregnancy with changes during pregnancy, leading to manifest keratoconus in women with genetic factors. This possibly predisposes the women to developing keratoconus.7
In addition, there have been several reported cases of progression of keratoconus during pregnancy after achieving stability prior to pregnancy, suggesting that pregnancy is a risk factor for progression of keratoconus.8
However, corneal changes in pregnancy may return to baseline after pregnancy, as described in findings from some studies.9,10 Other hormonal changes during pregnancy involving thyroid and stress-hormone cortisol levels may lead to decreased corneal stiffness and therefore progression of keratoconus in eyes that are at risk.11
Patients with keratoconus who have undergone treatment including corneal transplantation and CXL prior to pregnancy typically remain stable, even during pregnancy. However, there have been rare incidents of recurrence and progression of keratoconus in transplanted corneas and transplant rejection.12,13
In addition, progression of keratoconus after CXL leading to acute corneal hydrops, in which localized rupture of the Descemet membrane results in sudden corneal swelling, during pregnancy has been reported. However, the resolution of acute corneal hydrops was faster, possibly due to prior CXL, compared with eyes without CXL.14
Women planning for pregnancy should consider an eye exam beforehand. Although progression may still occur after CXL, lower risk and quicker recovery of acute corneal hydrops during pregnancy may be achieved with CXL prior to pregnancy.14
More studies are needed to elucidate the role of CXL as a preventive measure of keratoconus progression prior to pregnancy. If women experience any vision change during pregnancy, they are advised to seek prompt evaluation by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
The management of progressive keratoconus during pregnancy is challenging given the lack of information on progression, reversibility, or stabilization after delivery. Although CXL is a relatively safe procedure, no large studies have been conducted on collagen cross-linking in pregnant women, as effects on the fetus are unknown. Currently, CXL during pregnancy is contraindicated.15-16 If there is noted progression of keratoconus or changes in vision, an eyecare professional with experience in managing keratoconus should evaluate the patient for updates in glasses or contact lenses. After delivery, consideration for CXL or additional surgery may then be taken.
References
1. Loukovitis E, Sfakianakis K, Syrmakesi P, et al. Genetic aspects of keratoconus: a literature review exploring potential genetic contributions and possible genetic relationships with comorbidities. Ophthalmol Ther. 2018;7(2):263-292. doi:10.1007/s40123-018-0144-8
2. Bykhovskaya Y, Margines B, Rabinowitz YS. Genetics in keratoconus: where are we? Eye Vis (Lond). 2016;3:16. doi:10.1186/s40662-016-0047-5
3. Romero-Jiménez M, Santodomingo-Rubido J, Wolffsohn JS. Keratoconus: a review. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010;33(4):157-166. doi:10.1016/j. clae.2010.04.006
4. Kubicka-Trzaska A, Karska-Basta I, Kobylarz J, Romanowska-Dixon B. [Pregnancy and the eye]. Klin Oczna. 2008;110(10-12): 401-404.
5. Spoerl E, Zubaty V, Raiskup-Wolf F, Pillunat LE. Oestrogen-induced changes in biomechanics in the cornea as a possible reason for keratectasia. Br J Ophthalmol. 2007;91(11):1547-1550. doi:10.1136/ bjo.2007.12438
6. Naderan M, Jahanrad A. Topographic, tomographic and biomechanical corneal changes during pregnancy in patients with keratoconus: a cohort study. Acta Ophthalmol. 2017;95(4):e291-e296. doi:10.1111/ aos.13296:95:e291-e296
7. Soeters N, Tahzib NG, Bakker L, Van der Lelij A. Two cases of keratoconus diagnosed after pregnancy. Optom Vis Sci. 2012;89(1):112-116. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e318238c3f2
8. Park SB, Lindahl KJ, Temnycky GO, Aquavella JV. The effect of pregnancy on corneal curvature. CLAO J. 1992;18(4):256-259.
9. Pizzarello LD. Refractive changes in pregnancy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2003;241(6):484-488. doi:10.1007/s00417-003- 0674-0
10. Bilgihan K, Hondur A, Sul S, Ozturk S. Pregnancy-induced progression of keratoconous. Cornea. 2011;30(9):991-994. doi:10.1097/ ICO.0b013e3182068adc Gatzioufas Z, Thanos S. Acute keratoconus induced by hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy. J Endocrinol Invest. 2008;31(3):262-266. doi:10.1007/BF03345600
11. Gatzioufas Z, Panos GD, Gkaragkani E, Georgoulas S, Angunawela R. Recurrence of keratoconus after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty following pregnancy. Int J Ophthalmol. 2017;10(6):1011-1013. doi:10.18240/ijo.2017.06.28
12. Fulton JC, Cohen EJ, Honig M, Rapuano CJ, Laibson PR. Pregnancy and corneal allograft rejection. Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114(6):765. doi:10.1001/archopht.1996.01100130757028
13. Stock RA, Thumé T, Bonamigo EL. Acute corneal hydrops during pregnancy with spontaneous resolution after corneal cross-linking for keratoconus: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2017;11(1):53. doi:10.1186/s13256-017-1201-y
14. Mastropasqua L. Collagen cross-linking: when and how? A review of the state of the art of the technique and new perspectives. Eye Vis (Lond). 2015;2:19. doi:10.1186/s40662-015-0030-6
15. Galvis V, Tello A, Ortiz AI, Escaf LC. Patient selection for corneal collagen cross-linking: an updated review. Clin Ophthalmol. 2017;11:657-668. doi:10.2147/opth.s101386
16. Weiner G. CXL: the road ahead. EyeNet Magazine. 2017;3:47-51.
