[The influence of the hormonal replacement therapy on the amount and stability of the tear film among peri- and postmenopausal women].
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TL;DR
The results suggest that hormonal replacement therapy can be suitable for the treatment of the postmenopausal dry eye syndrome and significant correlation between modified Schirmer I test and lisozyme test is found.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To estimate the amount of the tear-film and its stability among women treated due to endocrinological or gynecological indications with hormone replacement therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 women treated with hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) were divided into 3 groups of examination: group 1 (20 women), treated with HRT after up to 1 year of menopausal symptoms, group 2 (20 women) treated with HRT between 1-5 years of menopausal symptoms, group 3 (20 women) treated with HRT after more than 5 years of menopausal symptoms. The secretion of the tear-film was measured using Schirmer I test and lisozyme test. The stability of the tear-film was measured with respect to the break-up time (BUT). The examinations were performed 3, 6, 12 months after HRT treatment. The values obtained before HRT treatment served as control. RESULTS: Before HRT treatment we observed significantly decreased tear secretion and lower stability in group 2 and group 3 as compared with group 1. We noticed the negative correlation between the secretion of the tear film as compared to age of examined women. HRT made the tear secretion significantly increased in group 2 and group 3 after 6, 12 and 3, 6, 12 months of HRT treatment respectively. We assessed a significant improvement of the tear film stability with respect to BUT in group 2 and 3 in all months of HRT treatment. We found significant correlation between modified Schirmer I test and lisozyme test (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The age and changes of the hormonal homeostasis have negative influence on the tear secretion, tear-film stability among peri and postmenopausal women. HRT treatment has beneficial influence on the tear film secretion and tear stabilization. Our results suggest that hormonal replacement therapy can be suitable for the treatment of the postmenopausal dry eye syndrome.