Sicca syndrome and hormonal replacement therapy

A decline in the quality and quantity of tears produced means limitations f or the affected patient, which should be taken seriously. The reduced lubri cation of the surface of the eye gives rise to problems. These do not only affect the wearers of contact lenses. Even the smallest foreign bodies in t he eye can become a problem. Hormone replacement therapy seems to have an i mportant positive secondary effect in these circumstances. Although both do ctors and patients may find the idea of using oestrogen to treat ophthalmol ogical symptoms equally unexpected, this useful effect on the symptoms of k erato-conjunctivitis sicca seems to provide further motivation for fairly l ong-term hormone replacement therapy. Should the symptoms reported not improve,despite systemic oestrogen therapy , the combination of systemic HRT with topical administration must be consi dered. The density of oestrogen receptors is demonstrably lower in the ocul ar region than in the genital area,which is a further reason why such a com bination could be helpful.