EFFECT OF THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE ON CORNEAL CURVATURE

The purpose of this research was to determine if a clinically signific ant variation in corneal curvature occurs with the menstrual cycle. Th e EyeSys(TM) Corneal Analysis System(TM) (GAS) was used to measure cor neal curvature of a test group of three normally menstruating female s ubjects over three cycles and compared with a control group of three m ales, for three pseudocycles of 28 days. Measurements were taken on da ys 1, 4, 8, 15 and 22 of each of three menstrual cycles, with four CAS images taken on each day. Four points (along 45, 135, 225 and 315 deg rees) were selected for each of rings 1, 3, 6 and 8, and the average c urvature for each of these rings was calculated. The results showed th at no detectable temporal effect occurred with the menstrual cycle, th us demonstrating that either cyclic variation in corneal topography wa s too small to be identified by this system or it did not take place. Copyright (C) 1996 The College of Optometrists.