Hormone Replacement Therapy and Dry Eye in Post Menopausal Women: Study in a Tertiary Centre in Malaysia

Authors

  • Norshamsiah M Din Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Siti H. B. Sa’aid Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Lam C. Shen Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Yap S. Shu Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Marina B. A. Rahman Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Aini B. M. Azmi Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Chang S. Thing Deans and Director’s Office, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Mushawiahti Mustapha Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Ropilah A. Rahman Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2013.14

Keywords:

Postmenopausal, Women, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Dry Eye Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Menopause involves decrease in the body estrogen level. There are many disorders associated with estrogen deficiency state. Postmenopausal women frequently report dry eye symptoms due to the decrease in the level of circulating estrogen hormone. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is given to alleviate some of the menopausal effects. This study aimed to compare the tear production between postmenopausal women treated with or without HRT.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 140 participants attending various clinics in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) namely the obstetric and gynecology, Surgery, Orthopedic and Otorhinolaryngology clinics over a period of 3 months. The subjects were either with or without HRT. Schirmer’s Test strip was used to measure the tear quantity. Dry eye was defined when the length of the moistened area on the strip is less than 5 mm.

Results: The results showed significant difference in tear quantity in postmenopausal women treated with or without HRT (p=0.003). No correlation was observed between tear quantity and duration of HRT consumption (p=0.217). No significant correlation was also found between the tear quantity and duration of menopause (p=0.150).

Conclusions: Our results suggested that HRT helps in improving tear production in postmenopausal women regardless of the duration of HRT consumption or menopause. However, duration of HRT consumption or menopause exert no significant effect on the tear quantity.

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Published

2013-04-30

How to Cite

Din, N. M., Sa’aid, S. H. B., Shen, L. C., Shu, Y. S., Rahman, M. B. A., Azmi, A. B. M., Thing, C. S., Mustapha, M., & Rahman, R. A. (2013). Hormone Replacement Therapy and Dry Eye in Post Menopausal Women: Study in a Tertiary Centre in Malaysia. International Journal of Medical Students, 1(1), 12–15. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2013.14

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Original Article

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