MENOPAUSE AND TEAR FUNCTION - THE INFLUENCE OF PROLACTIN AND SEX-HORMONES ON HUMAN TEAR PRODUCTION

Purpose. The onset of dry eye is very common during menopause and may result from the loss of hormonal support. The purpose of this study wa s to assess the effect that changes in sex hormone and prolactin level s have on tear function in pre menopausal and menopausal woman. Method s. Women be tween the ages of 30 and 60 were solicited to participate in a study concerning menopause and tear function. One-hundred and ten women were given tear function tests (osmolarity, tear volume, tear f low, Schirmer's test) and serum levels were measured for total testost erone, estradiol, prolactin, and follicle stimulating hormone. Results . For all women on hormone re placement therapy, we found a strong neg ative correlation be tween serum prolactin level and tear function. Fo r women in menopause, total testosterone correlated positively with te a; function, whereas for premenopausal women there was a negative corr elation between total testosterone and tear function. Serum estradiol levels correlated positively with tear function for women 30-39 years of age, whereas for menopausal women the correlation was negative. Con clusions. This is the first demonstration in humans that tear producti on is correlated with serum prolactin and sex hormone levels prior to and during the menopause.