Changes in visual function and ocular morphology in women who underwent assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and in their offspring: a systematic review

Publication date: Available online 7 December 2018Source: Reproductive BioMedicine OnlineAuthor(s): Mario D. Toro, Michele Reibaldi, Antonio Longo, Teresio Avitabile, Maria E. Lionetti, Sarah Tripodi, Chiara Posarelli, Stefano PalombaABSTRACTSince all the structures of the human eye are characterized by sex hormone receptors, we tested the hypothesis that assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) influence visual function and ocular morphology both in women who underwent ARTs and in children born after ARTs. A systematic literature search of all original articles published until August 2018 was performed using the PubMed database including all original studies available in literature and excluding review articles, studies in which participants underwent to mixed interventions (i.e. other specific than ARTs), studies reporting data on ocular malformations in ARTs offspring, and studies written in languages other than English. All selected articles were analyzed assessing the level and the quality of evidence according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 guidelines and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system, respectively. Even if sparse data suggest that ARTs can influence visual function and ocular morphology both in women who underwent ARTs and in children born after ARTs, any definitive conclusion can be provided for the low quality and level of available evidence. More research of good quality is needed to assess the ...
Source: Reproductive BioMedicine Online - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research