J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 Feb;51(2):175-179. 10.3341/jkos.2010.51.2.175.

Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Dry Eye Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women: A Prospective Study

• Moon JH
• Jung JW
• Shin KH
• Paik HJ

• KMID: 2213137
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2010.51.2.175

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effects of conjugated hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women.
METHODS
Thirty-six healthy postmenopausal women (72 eyes) were included in this three-month prospective study. Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein staining score and symptom score were performed on all patients at the time of enrollment, one month and three months after initiation of HRT. All patients received HRT consisting of conjugated estrogen and progesterone taken orally in a continuous combined regimen.
RESULTS
Symptom score significantly decreased from 2.10+/-0.79 before HRT to 1.32+/-0.84 after one month and to 0.88+/-0.67 after three months (p<0.001). In addition, tear film BUT measurements significantly increased from 6.04+/-2.54 seconds to 7.99+/-2.43 seconds after one month and to 8.93+/-2.20 after three months (p<0.001). The fluorescein staining score was 0.94+/-0.71 before HRT and decreased to 0.42+/-0.60 after one month and to 0.22+/-0.42 after three months (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Hormone replacement therapy consisting of conjugated estrogen and progesterone significantly improved the symptoms and signs of dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Keyword

Dry eye syndrome; Hormone replacement therapy; Postmenopausal woman

MeSH Terms

Dry Eye Syndromes
Estrogens
Female
Fluorescein
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Humans
Progesterone
Prospective Studies
Tears
Estrogens
Fluorescein
Progesterone

Reference

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