Women who go through menopause
early may be at greater risk of developing glaucoma according to a study at the
Netherlands Ophthalmic Research
Institute in Amsterdam. In a study of more than 3,000 women, those who went through natural menopause
before the age of 45 were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with
open-angle glaucoma as women who went through menopause at age 50 or older.
The
results indicate that female hormones may be protective against open-angle
glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
Of interest is that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is thought to
reduce fluid pressure inside the eye. Similarly, as hormone levels rise during
pregnancy, fluid pressure inside the eye decreases significantly, the
researchers noted. This is the first study to examine the relationship between
female sex hormones, as indicated by age of menopause and open-angle glaucoma.
If you or someone you know has questions about glaucoma risk
with early menopause, feel free to call Center for Sight at
508-730-2020, visit www.center-for-sight.com or facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North
Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
