Does postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy affect intraocular pressure?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional controlled study, including 107 women aged 60 to 80 years receiving HRT and 107 controls who have never received HRT. All subjects underwent IOP assessment and funduscopic photography for cup-to-disc (C/D) ratios, and completed questionnaires regarding personal and family history of glaucoma, hormone replacement therapy, lifetime estrogen and progesterone exposure, and cardiovascular risk factors. Main Outcome Measures included IOP, prevalence of increased IOP, and C/D ratios.


RESULTS
The groups did not differ in mean IOP (15.3 versus 15.3 mm Hg), mean vertical (0.18 versus 0.21) and horizontal (0.17 versus 0.14) C/D ratios, and in prevalence of increased IOP (15% versus 14%), C/D ratio (7% versus 7%), or glaucoma (9% versus 11%). A personal history of ischemic heart disease was the only risk factor associated with increased IOP (O.R. = 4.63, P = 0.003). Lifetime estrogen and progesterone exposure, including pregnancies, deliveries, menstruation years, and the use of oral contraceptives did not significantly affect the risk for increased IOP.


CONCLUSIONS
Hormone replacement therapy and lifetime estrogen and progesterone exposure do not seem to affect IOP or the risk for increased IOP. A personal history of ischemic heart disease may be associated with a higher risk for this disorder.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel. y-abramov@northwestern.edu
Yoram
Y
Abramov
Sharon
S
Borik
Claudia
C
Yahalom
Muhammad
M
Fatum
Gadiel
G
Avgil
Amnon
A
Brzezinski
Eyal
E
Banin
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone