Clinical Study
Eye (2004) 18, 826–832. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701340 Published online 20 February 2004
Management and outcome of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy
This paper was presented as a poster at the 2003 Oxford Ophthalmological Congress, Oxford.
None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material mentioned.
W C Chan1, L T Lim2, M J Quinn1, F A Knox1, D McCance3 and R M Best1
- 1Eye & Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- 2Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- 3Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Correspondence: WC Chan, MRCOphth Eye & Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK. Tel: +44 2890 240503; Fax: +44 2890 330744; E-mail: wingchan365@hotmail.com
Received 25 June 2003; Accepted 1 September 2003; Published online 20 February 2004.
Abstract
Aims To report the management and outcomes of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy.
Methods A retrospective review of 8 diabetic females who developed pregnancy related sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy requiring treatment over a 12-year period.
Results In total, 16 eyes of eight patients were included in this series. The mean age of the patients at presentation was 30.75 years 
3.8 SD and the mean duration of diabetes was 21.0 years 5.1 SD. The mean follow-up period was 46.75 months 47.2 SD. A total of 87.5% of patients showed progression of diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy, 71% of which were in the sight-threatening proliferative category. In the postpartum period, 81% of patients continued to progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, requiring panretinal photocoagulation and multiple other surgical procedures. In all, 69% of eyes retained visual acuity equal to or better than 0.3 logMAR units (6/12).
Conclusion Sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy is a rare disease, but it can have devastating consequences for mother and child. Laser photocoagulation should be considered for pregnant women with severe preproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy may not regress postpartum. Close followup should be extended in the postpartum period in this group of patients until the retinopathy is stabilised. The presence of combined rhegmatogenous and tractional retinal detachment and neovascular glaucoma were associated with the worst outcome.
Keywords:
diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, pregnancy
