What do early menopause and your risk of glaucoma have in
common? According to a study at the Netherlands
Ophthalmic Research Institute in Amsterdam women who go through menopause
early may be at risk of developing glaucoma-a leading cause of blindness. In a
study of more than 3,000 women, those who went through a natural menopause
before the age of 45 were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with
open-angle glaucoma as women who went through menopause at age 50 or older. The
results indicate that female hormones may be protective against open-angle
glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
Of interest is that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is thought to
reduce fluid pressure inside the eye. Similarly, as hormone levels rise during
pregnancy, fluid pressure inside the eye decreases significantly, the
researchers noted. This is the first study to examine the relationship between
female sex hormones, as indicated by age of menopause, and open-angle glaucoma.
If you or someone you know is
concerned about glaucoma risk with early menopause they are encouraged to
schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937,
visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so
that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK carepractice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523,
100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol,
Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve
the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area.
