title: Tear function tests and conjunctival impression cytology before and after hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on postmenopausal tear function and the conjunctival epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Schirmer I-Jones test, tear film break-up time (BUT), and impression cytology findings were analyzed in 34 eyes of 17 women who were at least two years postmenopausal and not taking HRT: This series of tests was repeated after three months on HRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' average age was 53.82 +/- 3.6 years, and the mean time postmenopause was 35.29 +/- 11.59 months. There was no significant difference in the Schirmer I-Jones test results before and after three months of HRT (p > 0.05). However, the BUT (p < 0.05) and impression cytology (p < 0.05) findings were significantly affected by HRT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRT may alleviate postmenopausal dry eye symptoms by increasing goblet cell density.
authors.affiliation: Başkent Univ. Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Adana Teaching and Medical Research Center, Ankara, Turkey. apelit@cu.edu.tr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelit
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bağiş
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kayaselçuk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dursun
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akova
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*