BACKGROUND: A belief has existed for many years that severe myopia is a direct indication for cesarean section or an instrumental vaginal delivery, although many academic papers negated this opinion. The aim of this study was to analyze the mode of delivery of myopic patients in the years 1990, 2000, and 2010.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 3027 women in labor from the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw were analyzed in 3 time periods: year 1990 – group 1 (G1), year 2000 – group 2 (G2), and 2010 – group 3 (G3). Maternal age, severity and proportion of myopia, ophthalmological consultations, and mode of delivery were assessed.

RESULTS: In G1 there were 992 patients, in G2 there were 1010 patients, and in G3 there were 1025 patients. Myopic women in labor accounted for 20% of G1, 12% of G2, and 20% of G3. The mean maternal age was ±29.4 years in G1, ±30 years in G2, and ±31.5 years in G3. Myopia was divided into 3 levels of severity depending on the degree of refractive error: low myopia <–3.0 diopters sphere (DS), moderate myopia from –3 DS to –6 DS, and high myopia >–6 DS. The number of ophthalmological examinations needed in myopic patients to decide on the mode of delivery showed an increasing tendency over the evaluated years, but the rates of referrals for cesarean section/assisted delivery decreased.

CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of myopic women in labor receiving ophthalmological consultations showed an increasing trend over time. Despite publication of the Ophthalmology-Obstetrics Consensus of the Polish Society of Ophthalmology guidelines, myopia still remains an indication for cesarean section (cesarian section), but not to shorten the second stage of delivery.

Keywords: Delivery, Obstetric, Myopia, Myopia, Degenerative, Pregnancy, Cesarean Section, Labor, Obstetric, Maternal Age, Obstetric Labor Complications, Poland, Pregnancy Complications