The
ophthalmologists at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center want women to know that
unfortunately, early menopause can also expose them to a greater risk of
developing glaucoma. This is according to a study of more than 3,000 women at
the Netherlands Ophthalmic Research
Institute in Amsterdam that identified women who go through menopause early
to be at greater risk of developing. Going through menopause is considered
early if it occurs before the age of 45 and those women were two times more
likely to develop open-angle glaucoma as those who experienced menopause at age
50 or later. What does this mean for women? The findings reveal that female
hormones may be protective against open-angle glaucoma, a leading cause of
blindness. Interestingly, hormone
replacement therapy (HRT) is thought to reduce fluid pressure inside the eye
due to the fact that 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.
Please schedule an eye
examination with us if you, or someone you know, is concerned about the risk of
glaucoma and need a glaucoma eye exam. You can reach us at Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, or visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.
