A study on ocular fundus changes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital

Purpose: The study was conducted to find ocular fundus changes in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and to study the correlation of ocular fundus changes with severity for hypertension, age, parity of women. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary eye care hospital at Hyderabad, Telangana from 12/10/2020 to 14/07/2021, among a total of 150 patients with hypertension in pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital. A detailed history was taken, ocular examination and fundus examination is done. Results: A total of 150 patients were examined. Fundus changes are seen in 31 patients. The mean age of patients is 25.48 years. Patients with Retinal changes seen in 20.66%. Patients grade – 1 hypertensive retinopathy seen in 13.53, grade – 2 hypertensive retinopathy seen in 5.33%, grade – 3 hypertensive retinopathy seen in 0.66%, grade – 4 hypertensive retinopathy seen in 1.33%. In the present study there is a significant correlation between parity of pregnancy and retinal changes with p=0.0000005 and correlation with severity of Hypertension and fundus changes is significant with P =0.0000001.the correlation of age with retinopathy is not significant with p=0.16. Conclusion: Ocular fundus changes has its importance in the course of pregnancy with hypertension as severity of hypertension if increases there can be changes in retina which indicate a harm to the baby and mother and it will be helpful in termination pregnancy. Pregnant women with hypertension are advised to go for screening of eyes and also regular checkups.