title: Evaluation of corneal thickness alterations during menstrual cycle in productive age women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the change in corneal thickness through different phases of menstrual cycle in women who are in their productive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty healthy women with normal past medical history were enrolled in this prospective study. Central corneal thickness was measured with ultrasound pachymeter three times during a menstrual cycle: Beginning of the cycle (days 1-3), ovulation time, and at the end of cycle (days 27-32). We confirmed ovulation time with determining a peak in luteinizing hormone in urine. To avoid the diurnal variation of the corneal thickness which is well recognized, we checked all our subjects at 10 in the morning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In days 1 to 3 of menstruation, mean corneal thickness was 541.40 ± 11.36 and 540.82 ± 11.70 microns for left and right eyes respectively. At ovulation time the mean thickness changed to 556.50 ± 7.11 and 555.98 ± 7.26 microns for left and right eyes respectively, and at the end of the cycle, the corneal thickness turned in to 536.38 ± 12.83 and 535.48 ± 13.08 microns for left and right eyes respectively. The difference of corneal thickness was statistically significant relating to the different stages of menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thickest cornea during the menstruation cycle is achieved at the ovulation time and the thinnest at the end of the cycle and this should be taken in to account whilst plan to do a corneal refractive surgery.
authors: Negar Amiri
authors: NA
authors: Ghahfarokhi
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Vaseghi
authors: Negin Amiri
authors: NA
authors: Ghahfarokhi
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Ghoreishi
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Peyman
authors: Assistant Professor of Isfahan Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Dehghani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult