The Occurrence of Glaucoma and Association with Serum Estradiol Level in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of glaucoma and association with the serum estradiol (E2) level in postmenopausal women. Methods: We evaluated the serum E2 level, female reproductive factors and glaucoma related risk factors including intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in 30 postmenopausal women who visited Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinic. Patients who showed abnormal findings on the glaucoma screening test were classified to the glaucoma suspect group (group-G), and underwent a glaucoma confirmatory test. Serum E2 level, female reproductive and other menopausal healthrelated factors such as lipid profiles and bone mineral densities were analyzed in the group-G and non glaucomatous group (group-N). Results: Eight out of thirty participants (26.7%) were classified to the group-G. One of them was diagnosed as having glaucoma that required treatment, and the other two were found to have early glaucomatous changes. Compared to the group-G, the group-N had a higher level of serum E2 (19.40 ± 4.79 vs. 13.95 ± 4.55 pg/mL) The difference, however, was not statistically significant (P = 0.525). The proportion of glaucoma suspect patients in the groups with a higher serum E2 level (≥ 20 pg/mL) and a lower serum E2 level (< 20 pg/mL) was similar (25.0 and 27.3%, P = 0.645). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that no female reproductive factors were associated with the risk of glaucoma. Conclusion: Comprehensive glaucoma screening using an OCT in postmenopausal women could detect more glaucoma patients than prevalence in the similar age group. Statistical significance was not found in the association between serum E2 level and the risk of glaucoma. (J Korean Soc Menopause 2013;19:106-111)