Variability in short-wavelength automated perimetry among peri- or postmenopausal women: a dependence on phyto-oestrogen consumption?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the hill of vision for Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry (SWAP) is shallower for women who consume phyto-oestrogen-rich foods than for women who do not.


METHODS
Visual field data were compared for two groups of healthy amenorrhoeic women 48-69 years-old with normal vision and not using hormone replacement: (1) 24 subjects who reported consuming soy and/or flax products and (2) 20 subjects who reported not consuming these products. Two types of 24-2 visual fields were measured: (1) Full Threshold SWAP and (2) a white-on-white (W/W) field obtained using a Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm (SITA Standard).


RESULTS
The reduction of SWAP sensitivity from the centre of the field (4 loci, mean eccentricity = 4.2°) to the periphery (20 loci, mean eccentricity = 21.9°) was less for soy/flax consumers than for nonconsumers, both with age-referencing (mean difference = 1.7 dB, p = 0.018) and without (p = 0.012). Corresponding distinctions existed for the SWAP - W/W difference, and there was minimal effect for W/W fields alone. The peripheral age-referenced SWAP sensitivities averaged 2.5 dB higher for consumers than nonconsumers (p = 0.022).


CONCLUSIONS
The between-group distinctions are consistent with the possibility (derived from the women's health literature) that phyto-oestrogens may counteract a decline of short-wavelength-sensitive cone-mediated response among postmenopausal women. These results suggest another potential application for SWAP outside its original intended purpose as a glaucoma test. Future studies should assess whether phyto-oestrogen consumption is most beneficial for women who are sufficiently young and/or not too far beyond menopause.
Eisner
Alvin
A
Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. eisnera@ohsu.edu
Demirel
Shaban
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011846:Radio Waves; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013025:Glycine max; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields
D048789:Phytoestrogens