Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
(POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma we see at D’Ambrosio Eye Care.
Recently an interesting relationship was noted between the risk of glaucoma and
taking postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment. According to researchers
publishing in JAMA
Ophthalmology taking “estrogen only”
postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment may help reduce the risk for primary
open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy & Glaucoma
By reviewing data from 152,163
women 50 years or older the researchers found that 1.9 percent of enrollees
developed POAG. Each additional month of use of PMH containing estrogen only
was associated with a 0.4 percent reduced risk for POAG whereas each additional
month of use of estrogen + progesterone or estrogen + androgen hormones did not
affect risk for POAG. This is interesting information and will require further
prospective clinical studies to understand fully but may offer some novel
treatments for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), an insidious sight
threatening eye diseases and the most common type of glaucoma.
If
you or someone you know is concerned about their risk of glaucoma, especially
if they are using postmenopausal hormone therapy (PMH), 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, Google+
or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.
D'Ambrosio
Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and
western Massachusetts 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.
