Medical management of glaucoma for the pregnant and breastfeeding patient

Authors

  • Gurkaran S. Sarohia, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • Mathew M. Palakkamanil, MD, MPH, FRCSC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cect.2023.2228

Abstract

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy which is relatively uncommon in childbearing age, with a reported prevalence of 0.16% between the ages of 18-40 years. Glaucoma management among pregnant patients presents a challenging scenario to the treating physician. Even with its low prevalence in the United Kingdom, a country-wide survey has revealed that approximately 26% of ophthalmologists reported having treated a pregnant patient with glaucoma. Perhaps due to this low prevalence, 31% of these ophthalmologists reported uncertainty about managing glaucoma in this population. When treating pregnant or breastfeeding patients, one must consider the benefit of treatment for the mother while weighing this against the risks the treatment may pose for the mother and fetus/child. This highlights the importance of having a review which can serve as a reference for physicians when managing glaucoma in pregnant and/or breastfeeding patients.

Author Biographies

Gurkaran S. Sarohia, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Dr. Gurkaran Sarohia completed his MD degree at the University of British Columbia and is currently an ophthalmology resident at the University of Alberta. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and presented his vision science research at international conferences. Besides his research endeavours, Dr. Sarohia is interested in global health and medical education.

Mathew M. Palakkamanil, MD, MPH, FRCSC, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Dr. Mathew Palakkamanil completed his MD degree at the University of Calgary followed by a five-year ophthalmology residency at the University of Alberta. Concurrent to this residency training, he completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a focus on epidemiology at Harvard University. He then completed a glaucoma fellowship at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Palakkamanil is currently appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta. He is actively involved in the training of medical students, residents, and fellows.

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Published

2023-05-17

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Sarohia GS, Palakkamanil MM. Medical management of glaucoma for the pregnant and breastfeeding patient. Can Eye Care Today [Internet]. 2023 May 17 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];2(2):21–26. Available from: https://canadianeyecaretoday.com/article/view/2-2-sarohia_et_al

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Volume 2, Issue 2, May 2023

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