Lesions of the Optic Nerve and Retina in Pregnancy

In the course of an apparently normal pregnancy, various ocular conditions may be encountered in which the influence of pregnancy must be taken into consideration. Hemorrhage into the vitreous, embolism or thrombosis of one of the branches of the central artery of the retina, acute chorioretinitis, retinal detachment, acute keratitis and iritis, paralysis of extra-ocular muscles and of accommodation, retrobulbar neuritis and homonymous hemianopia have been reported. In each instance the bearing of pregnancy on the severity of the disease or on its response to treatment must be evaluated. In the majority of cases, however, pregnancy is not directly connected with the causation of these lesions, and treatment can be carried out along the same lines and with as good results as if the patient were not pregnant. An interesting condition on which pregnancy does have a direct bearing but which has no very serious significance is hemeralopia, or night