The effects of delivery type and gender on intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness in newborns

Purpose: To analyze intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in newborns during the first 12 h of life. Methods: Forty-three newborns born by vaginal delivery (VD) and 30 newborns born by cesarean section (CS) were evaluated. IOP and CCT were measured using Tono-Pen and handheld pachymeter, respectively, at both the 5th minute after delivery and at the 12th h of life. Results: The mean IOP for the VD group was significantly higher than that of the CS group at both the 5th minute and 12th h (p=0.042 and p=0.018, respectively). In both groups, the IOP decreased by the 12th h, but the decrease was only significant for the CS group (p=0.020). The decrease in CCT over the 12 h was significant for both groups (p<0.001). In the VD and CS groups, the IOP values of the males were significantly higher than those of the females at the fifth minute only (p=0.024 and p=0.043, respectively). No other values were significantly different between the genders. Conclusions: Newborn IOP is affected by the mode of delivery and gender. A higher IOP was found in vaginally delivered newborns than in CS newborns for at least 12 h postpartum. CCT showed a significant decline within 12 h. Male newborns have significantly higher IOP values in the first minutes of life.