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The eye and visual system in the preeclampsia/eclampsia syndrome: What to expect?

Khawla Abu Samra1

  • 1Ross Eye Institute, 1176 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, United States.

Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology : Official Journal of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society
|August 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Preeclampsia and eclampsia can cause serious eye problems, including hypertensive retinopathy, retinal detachment, and cortical blindness. Early recognition of visual symptoms is crucial for managing these severe pregnancy complications.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Preeclampsia/eclampsia is a multisystem disorder affecting cardiovascular, hematologic, hepatic, renal, and neurologic systems.
  • Ocular and visual pathway involvement is a significant manifestation, impacting up to 50% of eclampsia patients.
  • Ophthalmic complications are critical but often under-recognized aspects of these hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the ophthalmic complications associated with preeclampsia/eclampsia.
  • To highlight key ocular findings such as hypertensive retinopathy, exudative retinal detachment, and cortical blindness.
  • To emphasize the importance of visual symptom assessment in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ophthalmic manifestations in preeclampsia/eclampsia.
  • Focus on hypertensive retinopathy, exudative retinal detachment, and cortical blindness.
  • Analysis of visual symptom prevalence in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Main Results:

  • Visual symptoms affect up to 25% of severe preeclampsia cases and 50% of eclampsia cases.
  • Hypertensive retinopathy is a common finding, reflecting systemic vascular damage.
  • Exudative retinal detachment and cortical blindness represent severe, potentially sight-threatening complications.

Conclusions:

  • Ophthalmic complications are integral to the preeclampsia/eclampsia syndrome.
  • Prompt recognition and management of visual disturbances are essential for patient outcomes.
  • Ophthalmologic evaluation is critical in patients presenting with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia.

Keywords:
EclampsiaEyeOcular complicationsPreeclampsiaVisual system

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