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Treatment of menopausal keratoconjunctivitis sicca with topical oestradiol
Author(s) -
Sator Michael O.,
Joura Elmar A.,
Golaszewski Thomas,
Gruber Doris,
Frigo Peter,
Metka Markus,
Hommer Anton,
Huber Johannes C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1998.tb09358.x
Subject(s) - medicine , keratoconjunctivitis sicca , artificial tears , tears , menopause , climacteric , prospective cohort study , visual analogue scale , hormone replacement therapy (female to male) , significant difference , schirmer test , randomized controlled trial , keratoconjunctivitis , ophthalmology , gynecology , surgery , dermatology , testosterone (patch) , dry eyes
Objective To investigate the effect of 17β‐oestradiol ophthalmic drops in comparison with a traditional Design Randomised prospective trial. Setting Menopause clinic. Participants Eighty‐four postmenopausal women suffering from keratoconjunctivitis sicca and necessitating a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for general climacteric symptoms. Methods The women were randomised into two groups and were given 17β‐oestradiol eye drops ( n=42 , group 1) or a tear substitute ( n=42 , group 2). Both groups received a systemic HRT. Main outcome measures A Schirmer's test was performed immediately before the beginning of therapy and after four months. In addition, eye symptoms were assessed using a visual analogue scale. Results A comparison of visual analogue scores at four months in the women who received 17β‐oestradiol eye drops versus those who received a tear substitute demonstrated a statistically significant difference in all observed ocular symptoms (P<0.0001) The Schirmer's test revealed a significant difference of results before and after treatment in the oestradiol group (P<0.0001) while in group 2 no significant difference was found. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that topical oestrogen is successful in treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca while it seems that the blood‐eye barrier prevents systemic oestrogens from acting on the conjunctivae.