Global Pediatric Ophthalmology Congress

Biography

Biography: Olga Alvarez-Bulnes

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) develops in 1-3% of pregnancies. GDM is associated with adverse health outcomes for both mother and newborns. Regarding, children born from a GDM pregnancy, there is association to disturbances of intrauterine growth, congenital anomalies (cardiovascular congenital abnormalities, isolated renal a/dysgenesis, obstructive defects of the urinary tracts, cryptorchidism, shoulder dystocia, esophageal atresia) as well as post-natal neurobehavioral disorders. But after a search through PubMed, we only found one work on how GDM could affect the eyes of these children. Ricci et al., describe changes in the iris vessels and stroma that resolved spontaneously within 2weeks.
Methods: We conducted an observational study among children who attended the outpatients’ ophthalmology clinic in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2015. We divide the study patients into three groups: A (GDM controlled with diet), B (GDM controlled with insulin), C (control, no GDM). We review the notes collecting information on refraction, ophthalmologic pathology and/or congenital ocular malformations.
Results: So far, we have collected date from 217 children (planning to reach about 350 by the end of December). Partial results show similar results in strabismus rate among the three groups. But there seems to be an increase in the rate of ametropia in those children born to a GDM mother, who controlled glycemia with diet and there is an increase in the rate of amblyopia in both diet and insulin treated patients compared to control group.
Conclusion: These results would show a need to refer children born to GDM pregnancies to the ophthalmology department as ametropia and amblyopia can interfere normal acquisition of fine skills as well as academic achievements and can also easily be treated and corrected if detected.