The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness
Abstract Backgroun To evaluate the effect of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), and the choroidal thickness (CT). Methods In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, 60 eyes of 30 healthy women taking monoph...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Ophthalmology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-019-1263-2 |
| _version_ | 1818434820984799232 |
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| author | Yasmine Maher Shaaban Tamer Abdel Fattah Badran |
| author_facet | Yasmine Maher Shaaban Tamer Abdel Fattah Badran |
| author_sort | Yasmine Maher Shaaban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Backgroun To evaluate the effect of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), and the choroidal thickness (CT). Methods In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, 60 eyes of 30 healthy women taking monophasic OCP (0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel) for contraception for at least 1 year were compared with 60 eyes of a control group of 30 healthy women who were not taking any OCP. Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) was used to evaluate the macula, the RNFL, the GCL, and the CT. Measurements were taken in the follicular phase (day 3) of the last menstrual cycle in all women. The body mass index (BMI) scores of all participants were also recorded. Results No disparity in terms of age and BMI between both groups was observed (p = 0.444, p = 0.074, respectively). All the macular parameters measurements were considerably lower in the OCP group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Also, the RNFL thickness, the GCL thickness, and the CT were all significantly thinner in the OCP group (p < 0.001). Conclusions The use of OCP can cause significant changes in the retina and choroid thickness over 1 year period. The women who are using OCP for a longer duration could have some eye problems. OCT should be routinely done for follow up. Further long term studies are required, using different preparations of OCP. It is important to find out when this thickness alterations can be clinically significant or symptomatic and if these changes are reversible or not. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:43:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa6976d40e5842fc9b60450e3abedd31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2415 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:43:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa6976d40e5842fc9b60450e3abedd312022-12-21T22:54:18ZengBMCBMC Ophthalmology1471-24152019-12-011911610.1186/s12886-019-1263-2The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thicknessYasmine Maher Shaaban0Tamer Abdel Fattah Badran1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Backgroun To evaluate the effect of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), and the choroidal thickness (CT). Methods In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, 60 eyes of 30 healthy women taking monophasic OCP (0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel) for contraception for at least 1 year were compared with 60 eyes of a control group of 30 healthy women who were not taking any OCP. Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) was used to evaluate the macula, the RNFL, the GCL, and the CT. Measurements were taken in the follicular phase (day 3) of the last menstrual cycle in all women. The body mass index (BMI) scores of all participants were also recorded. Results No disparity in terms of age and BMI between both groups was observed (p = 0.444, p = 0.074, respectively). All the macular parameters measurements were considerably lower in the OCP group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Also, the RNFL thickness, the GCL thickness, and the CT were all significantly thinner in the OCP group (p < 0.001). Conclusions The use of OCP can cause significant changes in the retina and choroid thickness over 1 year period. The women who are using OCP for a longer duration could have some eye problems. OCT should be routinely done for follow up. Further long term studies are required, using different preparations of OCP. It is important to find out when this thickness alterations can be clinically significant or symptomatic and if these changes are reversible or not.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-019-1263-2Oral contraceptiveMaculaNerve fiberGanglionChoroidOcular coherence tomography |
| spellingShingle | Yasmine Maher Shaaban Tamer Abdel Fattah Badran The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness BMC Ophthalmology Oral contraceptive Macula Nerve fiber Ganglion Choroid Ocular coherence tomography |
| title | The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| title_full | The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| title_fullStr | The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| title_short | The effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| title_sort | effect of oral contraceptive pills on the macula the retinal nerve fiber layer the ganglion cell layer and the choroidal thickness |
| topic | Oral contraceptive Macula Nerve fiber Ganglion Choroid Ocular coherence tomography |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-019-1263-2 |
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