Effect of hormone replacement therapy on ocular hemodynamics in postmenopausal women

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on ocular hemodynamics in postmenopausal women. METHODS. Ocular Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 20 postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and in 20 women without treatment, as the control group. Central retinal artery (CRA), posterior ciliary artery (PCA) and ophthalmic artery (OA) flow velocities and vascular resistances were measured prospectively by a radiologist blinded to the therapy. There were no associated systemic or ocular diseases or any medication history. RESULTS. The mean age of the patients on HRT was 50.05 +/- 4.5 yrs (range 44 - 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 years). There were no differences between the groups in terms of flow velocities, vascular resistivities or pulsatility indices of OA, CRA and PCA (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS. HRT is essential in postmenopausal women for relief of vasomotor symptoms, cardioprotection and prevention of osteoporosis. Even though vaso-occlusive complications of hormone preparations have been reported, we did not observe any changes in ocular hemodynamics detectable with Doppler ultrasonography.