Menopause, hormone replacement therapy and tear function

This pilot study investigates the effect of menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and gender on tear function. Hormones affect the incidence and course of dry eye conditions, and anecdotal evidence suggests the incidence of dry eye increases in women after menopause. Estrogen HRT alleviates some of the side effects of menopause, but whether systemic HRT benefits dry eye sufferers is not known. HRT may restore hormonal support to the lacrimal gland and tear function to normal levels. Pre-menopausal women, post-menopausal women, hysterectomized women taking HRT and age-matched men were enrolled. We examined ocular symptomatology, tear film function and tear film composition in the four groups, In particular, we examined tear lipocalin secretion. Tear lipocalin is a marker of lacrimal function and may be important in maintaining tear film stability. A difference in tear lipocalin secretion among groups was expected to reflect differences in signs and symptoms of dry eye.