title: The effects of hormone replacement therapy on dry eye syndromes evaluated by Schirmer test depend on patient age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to explore the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on aqueous tear production and tear quality in dry eye syndrome (DES) patients of different ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight women with DES at least one year after spontaneous menopause were randomly divided into the HRT group that were treated with orally estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate or a control group that did not receive any treatment. The aqueous tear production and tear quality were measured by Schirmer test and tear film break up time (TBUT) before and after one month of treatment. The subjects were subdivided according to age; the HRT group was divided into groups A (age range: 44-49 years) and B (age range: 50-57 years), and the controls were divided into groups C (age range: 46-49 years) and D (age range: 50-55 years). The changes in results of Schirmer test and TBUT before and after treatment were compared within each group and were correlated with the age of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one-month follow-up, HRT use improved the Schirmer test but the effect was significant only for participants less than 50 years old. The improvement in Schirmer test result was negatively correlated with the age of the participants. The TBUT did not change significantly within each group after HRT use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRT use may improve aqueous tear production but not the quality of tears in DES, and the effect on tear production is dependent on age.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, China.
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthamology, Huludao Central Hospital, Huludao, Liaoning 121000, China.
authors.forename: Shuli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthamology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China. Electronic address: lky0110@126.com.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
keywords: Age; Dry eye syndrome; Hormone replacement therapy; Menopause