Effect of hormone replacement therapy on ocular hemodynamics in postmenopausal women

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on ocular he modynamics in postmenopausal women. METHODS. Ocular Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 20 postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and in 20 women without treatmen t, as the control group. Central retinal artery (CRA), posterior ciliary ar tery (PCA) and ophthalmic artery (OA) flow velocities and vascular resistan ces were measured prospectively by a radiologist blinded to the therapy. Th ere were no associated systemic or ocular diseases or any medication histor y. RESULTS. The mean age of the patients on HRT was 50.05 +/- 4.5 yrs (range 4 4 - 62). The mean age of the control group was 52.8 +/- 4.09 yrs (range 46 - 65). The mean duration of HRT was 1.6 +/- 1.4 yrs (range 3 months - 5 yea rs). There were no differences between the groups in terms of flow velociti es, vascular resistivities or pulsatility indices of OA, CRA and PCA (p >0. 05). CONCLUSIONS. HRT is essential in postmenopausal women for relief of vasomot or symptoms, cardioprotection and prevention of osteoporosis. Even though v aso-occlusive complications of hormone preparations have been reported, we did not observe any changes in ocular hemodynamics detectable with Doppler ultrasonography.