title: Effects of estrogen use on lens transmittance in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lens autofluorescence originates from an accumulation of fluorescent substances that are associated with the process of cataractogenesis and lens aging. The aim of this study was to determine whether postmenopausal estrogen use reduces age-related nuclear sclerosis in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors designed a case-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen postmenopausal women reporting estrogen use for more than 4 years (group 1), 20 postmenopausal women reporting no estrogen use (group 2), and 23 age-matched men (group 3) were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed fluorophotometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneal and lens autofluorescence and lens transmittance were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lens transmittance values were 0.905 +/- 0.03, 0.839 +/- 0.08, and 0.841 +/- 0.08 in the three groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between group 1 and the other two groups (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data are suggestive of a protective effect of estrogen use on the lenses of postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmologicas Ramon Castroviejo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Benitez del Castillo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: del Rio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000517:prevention & control; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology; D004964:Estriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D004964:Estriol