Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on postmenopausal tear function tests and conjunctival epithelium. Methods: We performed Schirmer I test, tear film break-up time (BUT) and impression cytology tests on 34 eyes of 17 cases, having menopause at least for 2 years and taking no HRT. Same processes were repeated after 3 months following HRT. Results: : Average age of the cases was 53.82±3.6 years and average menopause time was 35.29±11.59 months. There was no significant difference before and after HRT considering Schirmer I test (p≷0.05), however BUT (p<0.05) and impression cytology (p<0.05) results were significantly different after therapy. Conclusion: We concluded that HRT could alleviate the postmenopausal dry eye symptoms by increasing goblet cell density.
Keywords: 376 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • 365 conjunctiva • 381 cytology