Dry eye in post-menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy
Received 12 February 2006; received in revised form 22 August 2006; accepted 25 August 2006. published online 18 September 2006.
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on dry eye in post-menopausal women.
Methods
Forty post-menopausal women with dry eye (20 patients, group 1) and without dry eye (20 patients, group 2), and planning to receive HRT (estrogen plus progesterone), were recruited as the study groups. Forty age-matched untreated women were enrolled as controls (group 3 with dry eye, 5 patients; group 4 without dry eye, 35 patients). Patients having at least one of the symptoms (dryness, itching, photophobia, foreign body sensation, and tearing) together with two of the tests with positive results for dry eye (tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein staining of the cornea, analysis of the meibomian gland, and Schirmer I test) in both eyes were considered dry eye positive. Hormonal assay for follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and free testosterone was performed. Dry eye statuses in the groups were evaluated statistically.
Results
Four patients with incomplete follow-up data were excluded. HRT use increased estrodiol levels in the groups. Mean ages of patients (50.2±4.8 and 50.7±3.9 years, and 50.0±4.6 and 53.0±3.9 years) were similar (p=0.67). Duration of menopause in groups 1 and 2 (3.2±2.2 and 1.4±1.2 years; p=0.01), and in groups 3 and 4 (3.0±1.6 and 1.7±1.3 years; p=0.014) were different. At the third month examinations, all of the patients in group 1, and 11 patients (61.1%) in group 2 had dry eye (p=0.003).
Conclusion
Duration of menopause and use of HRT may increase the incidence of dry eye in post-menopausal woman.
ABSTRACT