Dry eye symptoms and plasma hormone levels - A pilot study
Purpose: Dry eye symptoms are commonly reported par- ticularly in women post-menopause. This study explored the relationship between levels of plasma sex hormones and dry eye symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional, single visit study was conducted. The study involved a convenience s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/64641/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/64641/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/64641/1/PIIS1367048413001458.pdf |
| Summary: | Purpose:
Dry eye symptoms are commonly reported par-
ticularly in women post-menopause. This study explored the
relationship between levels of plasma sex hormones and dry eye
symptoms.
Method:
A cross-sectional, single visit study was conducted. The
study involved a convenience sample of 74 subjects without ocular
surface disease, including 52 females (mean age 35.3
±
13.4years,
range 18.8-70.3) and 22 males (mean age 34.2
±
13.8years, range
20.2-75.3). Subjects completed the Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ5)
and numerical ratings of discomfort, dryness, foreign body (FB)
sensation, burning and watering. Tear osmolarity (TearLab) and
volume (Phenol Red Thread) were assessed. Venous blood was
collected and plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E2) and total
testosterone (TT) were determined using specific enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. Associations were examined using Pear-
son’s or Spearman’s correlations, and differences between groups
were assessed using independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney
U test, as appropriate.
Results:
Mean group E2 concentration was 65.2
±
50.9pg/ml
in females and 40.7
±
23.8pg/ml in males; TT concentration was
0.49
±
0.29 and 4.3
±
1.6ng/ml respectively. Symptom reporting
was higher in females (p < 0.05). Tear volume was reduced in
females (p = 0.02); there was no difference in tear osmolarity. In
e8
Abstracts / Contact Lens & Anterior Eye 36 (2013) e1–e15
females, increased ocular symptoms (DEQ5, dryness, FB) was asso-
ciated with higher levels of E2 (p < 0.05). Higher TT in females
correlated with more FB sensation and lower tear volume (p < 0.05).
No association was found between tear osmolarity and hormone
levels in females. There was no association between age and ocular
symptoms in either males or females.
Conclusions:
Higher circulating levels of sex steroid hormones
appear to play a role in increased symptoms of dry eye in females,
but not in males. This effect does not appear to be influenced by
age. Evaluation of co-related factors such as levels of free testos-
terone is warranted to further explore these relationships in the
pathophysiology of dry eye. |
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