The "dry eye" phenomenon and ovarian function. Study of 700 women pre- and postmenopausal

One kind of extragenital effects of estrogens are those on the eye-a topic that should interest gynecologists and ophthalmologists alike. The frequency of ovarian function being relevant to the complaint "dry eye" was the subject of a study among more than 700 women. 1.4 out of 11 particular symptoms related to the "dry eye" showed a lower incidence among postmenopausal women receiving oral estrogen-therapy than among those postmenopausal patients without estrogen substitution. Examples for this are epiphora in 16% respectively 32% and visual disturbance in 27% respectively 3% of patients. 2. The more time had passed since the entrance to menopause the more some symptoms increased without estrogen substitution respectively decreased under estrogen-therapy, e.g. visual flicker more than 10 years after menopause: 35% versus 10%. 3. The symptoms of the "dry eye" are most often medicable by estrogen substitution below the age of 60 years. 4. Postmenopausal women aged under 60 years and not receiving estrogen substitution complained of "severe eye problems" in 32% those with estrogen-therapy in only 11% of cases. 5. During child-bearing period the symptoms of the "dry eye" are also relevant to gynaecological practice. Seven of the 11 particular symptoms showed higher incidence among patients taking ovulation inhibitors than among those having spontaneous menstrual cycles. Visual flicker in 42% respectively 24% of patients may serve as an example. This study demonstrates that functional disorders of tear film with symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca are "relatively often" related to ovarian steroids- and therefore to gynecological practice.