How Will Pregnancy Affect My Keratoconus?

Keratoconus Treatment Beverly Hills, CA

Hormone fluctuations in the body are linked to the progression of this eye condition: that is why so many keratoconus patients start to see their symptoms develop during puberty. For that reason, it is understandable that some women are concerned about the potential impact pregnancy may have for causing or restarting keratoconus.

Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, an ophthalmologist known worldwide for his keratoconus expertise, shares what the latest research says about this subject so that women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant one day can make informed decisions about their health.

How Pregnancy Affects Keratoconus

Studies, as well as doctors’ firsthand observations, do point to a link between pregnancy and keratoconus progression. However, it is important to stress that there is no evidence to suggest that pregnancy causes keratoconus. Instead, it appears that previously undiagnosed keratoconus becomes detectable as the symptoms worsen during pregnancy.

The culprit for this rapid progression appears to be heightened estrogen production, a natural occurrence during pregnancy. The extra estrogen weakens the cornea by affecting the corneas’ estrogen receptors. A now-thinner cornea with preexisting keratoconus is especially prone to bulging during this period.

Researchers have found that the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy can restart keratoconus progression in some women whose keratoconus had previously stabilized.

Fortunately, in many of these cases, the bulging that progressed during pregnancy subsides back to baseline levels during postpartum.

Treatment Recommendations

This information begs the question: can keratoconus return in pregnant women who have been successfully treated for this condition in the past? Luckily, the answer for most appears to be no. Women who have undergone corneal crosslinking or corneal transplant prior to becoming pregnant are very unlikely to see keratoconus recur, even with the surge of estrogen that accompanies pregnancy.

That means women who were previously diagnosed and treated for keratoconus do not have to worry about having children. Although it is worth discussing any concerns with Dr. Brian and monitoring the health of the eyes during pregnancy, keratoconus does not have to be an obstacle in a woman’s pregnancy journey.

It also means that women who plan to get pregnant one day have extra incentive to seek diagnosis and treatment for this degenerative condition in advance. Stabilizing keratoconus early is advantageous in any situation but is extra important because it may help prevent the progression that is known to occur during pregnancy.

Because no research exists on corneal crosslinking’s effect on a fetus, women are discouraged from having this procedure during pregnancy. While there is no reason to believe that this non-invasive procedure causes harm, out of an abundance of caution, it makes the most sense to manage keratoconus prior to becoming pregnant.

Speak to Dr. Brian

To have all your keratoconus questions answered before, during and after pregnancy, please schedule an appointment at his Beverly Hills office by calling 1-310-860-1900.

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A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT DR. BRIAN

Throughout his highly respected career, cornea specialist Dr. Brian has never wavered with his integrity and dedication to always do the best for each and every patient - even in the face of adversity and peer pressure. Case in point: when he developed a procedure to treat a cornea condition known as Keratoconus. While other eye surgeons were entrenched in performing invasive and painful cornea transplants, Dr. Brian invented a new non-invasive procedure that prevented needing cornea transplants. He was shocked by the medical establishment being unwelcoming to his innovation because, as he later found out, his new procedure was preventing other eye surgeons from performing their lucrative cornea transplants. Dr. Brian persisted, went against the grain and didn’t give up because he believed in himself and in his procedure as it was in the best interest of patients. Eventually, he crossed paths with U.S. Olympic bobsled driver Steven Holcomb who had Keratoconus and became so depressed over it that he tried to commit suicide. Luckily, he survived. The United States Olympic team and his coaches found Dr. Brian and sent Steven to see him. Dr. Brian restored his vision to 20/20 which enabled Steven later win a historic Olympic gold medal for United States in bobsled - the first in 62 years! As a result, Dr. Brian was later invited to give a prestigious TEDx talk about his integrity and dedication to patients. You can watch his moving and inspiring TEDx talk here.

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