ABSTRACT

Tears play a crucial role in maintaining eye health and vision clarity and it can be influenced by hormonal and physiological changes, which can fluctuate during pregnancy.This study evaluates tear quantity among pregnant and non-pregnant women to determine the impact of pregnancy on tear production using schirmer strip test . A total of 199 participants were included, with 49.7% being pregnant and 50.3% non-pregnant. The results indicate that non-pregnant women exhibited significantly higher tear volumes (M = 26.73, SD = 9.65) compared to pregnant women (M = 20.92, SD = 10.85). Among pregnant participants, those in the third trimester showed the highest mean tear volume (M = 24.15, SD = 11.26), whereas the first trimester recorded the lowest (M = 18.86, SD = 10.85). A significant association was found between pregnancy status and tear volume (χ²(4) = 32.06, p < .001), suggesting that pregnancy is associated with reduced tear production. However, tear volume variations across trimesters were not statistically significant (p = .102). Additionally, age was significantly correlated with tear production, with participants aged 22–26 years demonstrating the highest tear volumes (p < .001). These findings suggest that hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy may contribute to lower tear production, which could have implications for ocular health and comfort in pregnant women.

Key Words: Tear volume, pregnancy, non-pregnant women, ocular health, trimester, tear production, hormonal changes, statistical analysis, gestation, eye dryness.