title: Visual function in menopause: the role of hormone replacement therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on visual function after menopause.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 80 postmenopausal women aged 52 to 70 years. Women were randomly divided into two groups: 40 women were treated by oral HRT (equine conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg/day + dydrogesterone 5 mg/day in a continuous combined regimen), and 40 women were not treated with hormones (control group). Each woman underwent a contrast sensitivity test, a Schirmer test, and an evaluation of intraocular pressure before starting the study and 1 year after the beginning of the study. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's test and Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrast sensitivity function was significantly improved in all spatial frequencies (1.5, 3, 6, and 12 cycles per degree) with the exception of 18 cycles per degree in the HRT group 1 year after the beginning of treatment, whereas the control group demonstrated significant impairment at the lowest spatial frequencies (1.5, 3, and 6 cycles per degree). Tear production was significantly improved in the HRT group 1 year after the beginning of treatment, and intraocular pressure was similar in the two groups before and after the beginning of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRT improves visual function, promoting a better contrast sensitivity and a higher tear production, but does not modify intraocular pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Epidemiology Unit, University of Trieste, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Italy.
authors.forename: Secondo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guaschino
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartore
authors.forename: Raffaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mugittu
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mangino
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bortoli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pensiero
authors.forename: Agatino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perissutti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects*; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D004394:Dydrogesterone