Knowledge and Attitude of Pregnant Women Towards Ocular Changes During Pregnancy in Enugu State

Pregnancy induces a range of physiological changes that can affect ocular health, including alterations in corneal curvature, intraocular pressure, and visual acuity. Despite these documented changes, awareness among pregnant women in Nigeria remains low. This study examines the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women toward pregnancy-related ocular changes at selected antenatal clinics in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study will be conducted among 320 pregnant women attending antenatal care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and two primary healthcare centers in Enugu. A structured questionnaire developed and validated by the research team will be used to gather data on participants' knowledge of ocular symptoms during pregnancy, their attitudes toward seeking optometric care, and their health-seeking behavior. Data analysis will employ frequency tables, means, and chi-square tests. The study anticipates that a majority of participants will demonstrate limited awareness of pregnancy-induced visual changes and will not have received optometric referrals from their obstetricians. Findings will be used to advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration between optometrists and obstetricians in managing the full spectrum of maternal health in Nigeria. This research provides a foundation for designing targeted health education programs for expectant mothers in the South East zone and reinforces the relevance of optometric care in prenatal settings. Keywords: pregnancy, ocular changes, antenatal care, Enugu, maternal health