An objective method to determinme corneal changes during menopause.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that menopause has a measurable effect on corneal thickness. The aim of this study was to evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) differences between women in the premenopausal and postmenopausal period.


METHODS
A prospective, case-control, single-blind study was designed. Two groups were included: Group I (premenopausal period) and Group II (postmenopausal period). Forty women were recruited in each group. The correlation between CCT with age, estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were evaluated.


RESULTS
CCT was significantly decreased in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women (521.18 +/- 37.97 microm 561 +/- 42.84 microm, respectively, p < 0.005). Similarly, there was a linear correlation between CCT and serum E2 levels of patients overall (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented in this study suggest that menopause causes corneal changes, which may be documented by central corneal thickness measurement.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey. nadikeskin@superonline.com
N
N
Keskin
S
S
Cantürk
S
S
Aydin
H
H
Saygili
C
C
Ozgün
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D004958:Estradiol