Research article

Corneal topographic changes in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Erdinc Aydin¹ , Helin Deniz Demir¹ , Fazli Demirturk² , Ahmet Cantug Calıskan² , Hakan Aytan² and Unal Erkorkmaz³

¹  Department of Ophthalmology, Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey

²  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey

³  Department of Biostatistics, Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey

author email corresponding author email

BMC Ophthalmology 2007, 7:9doi:10.1186/1471-2415-7-9

Published:	14 May 2007

Abstract

Background

To asses the effect of menopause on the corneal curvature changes using corneal computerized videokeratography (CVK) in premenopausal and postmenopausal healthy women.

Methods

Thirty-six postmenopausal women with mean ages of 49.2 (range 39 to 57) were enrolled in this randomized, prospective study, comparing with 26 healthy controls with mean ages of 38.5 +/- 4.9 (range 32 to 49). Subjects were determined to be postmenopausal, by the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, based on blood Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Estradiol, Progesterone levels and clinical complaints. Complete ophthalmic examination and CVK using Haag-Streit System was performed in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Results

Mean horizontal curvature and vertical curvature of central corneal power in premenopausal women were 43.5 +/- 1.25 Diopter (D), and 44.1 +/- 1.53 D. Mean horizontal curvature and vertical curvature of central corneal power in postmenopausal women were 43.9 +/- 1.4 D, and 44.6 +/- 1.3 D. The mean keratometric astigmatisms of premenopausal and postmenopausal women were 0.81 +/- 0.57 D (4–179 degrees), 0.74 degrees +/- 0.5 D (1–180 degrees) respectively. No significant corneal curvature changes were detected between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups (P > 0.05). On the other hand, we only found negative but significant correlation between horizontal corneal curvature and estrogen level of postmenopausal women (r = -0.346, p = 0.038).

Conclusion

Menopause is physiologic process and may also affect corneal topographic changes. In postmenopausal women, corneal steeping was observed minimally compared to premenopausal women. The results suggest that changes in estrogen level of women with menopause are associated with slightly alteration of horizontal curvature of cornea.