Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate symptoms of dry eyes in post-menopausal women with no history of ocular surface disease or history of corneal or lid surgery. Methods: 20 post-menopausal females were given a psychometric questionnaire regarding subjective symptoms of dry eyes. Complete anterior and posterior exams were then performed by the same examiner. The Schirmer test with anesthesia and fluorescein staining of the cornea in the superior, nasal, inferior, temporal and central areas was performed on a scale of 0 - 4. Results: The study investigated 20 female patients. The age range of the patients was 55 - 85 years, with the mean age of 69.9 years. 13/20 patients had dry eye symptoms. 5/20 had dry eye symptoms at least some of the time. 1/20 patients took HRT (hormone replacement therapy). 6/20 women used eye drops for their dry eye symptoms, and, 6/20 women with dry eye symptoms at least some of the time did not use eye drops. 7/20 women had no complaints of dry eyes. 13/20 had no fluorescein staining. 1/20 had grade 4 fluorescein staining, 1/20 had grade 3 fluorescein staining. Schirmer's grades (20 patients, 40 eyes) ranged from 2 - 17 mm, with a mean score of 8.5 mm. 26/40 had Schirmer's less than or equal to 10 mm and 14/40 were between 11 - 17 mm. Conclusions: Approximately 1/3 of postmenopausal women studied had dry eye symptoms. Approximately 1/2 of women with dry eye symptoms used eye drops in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. There was significantly decreased tear film production in post-menopausal women studied.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: pre