Corneal sensitivity during the menstrual cycle.

Abstract

SUMMARY Corneal sensitivity was determined in 5 women with regular menstrual cycles by means of a new aesthesiometer developed by Drager. Throughout one menstrual cycle we measured corneal touch thresholds (CiT) daily and did serial determinations of urinary luteinising hormone and pregnanediol levels. CTT rose in 4 women with proved ovulation in the days before or on the day of ovulation, while corneal sensitivity remained unchanged in one anovulatory subject. We observed no changes in CTT prior to menstruation. The decrease in corneal sensitivity might be related to the preovulatory oestrogen peak.A reduction in corneal sensitivity in the female occurs not only after operations on the eye, in various metabolic diseases, and after long-term use of contact lenses, but also in relation to physiological changes of the organism, for example during pregnancy.' Therefore one might assume that corneal sensitivity of the healthy eye also varies during the menstrual cycle. Millodot and Lamont described a significant reduction in corneal sensitivity in the days prior to the onset of menstruation.2 These authors measured corneal sensitivity in 2 women daily and in 7 women at intervals of 2 weeks during the menstrual cycle by means of a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer.With the introduction of the electromagnetic aesthesiometer of Drager a quantitative and reproducible method for the determination of corneal touch threshold (CiTT) became available.34 The purpose of the present study was to assess corneal touch thresholds with this new aesthesiometer during the menstrual cycle and to relate possible changes in corneal sensitivity to serial measurements of luteinising hormone and pregnanediol. Patients and methodsFive healthy women between the ages of 21 and 35 years (mean age 26-8 years) with no eye disease and regular menstrual cycles volunteered for this study. Corneal touch threshold was assessed daily during one menstrual cycle. All examinations were performed by the same author in a separate room between 8 and 10 a.m.5Correspondence to Dr Brigitte Riss. First Department of Ophthalmology. Spitalgasse 2. A-1090 Vienna. Austria. 123The electromagnetic aesthesiometer of Drager was used in order to obtain reproducible values for corneal touch threshold.34 The instrument consists of a metal tactile probe with a diameter of 0-5 mm. In order to avoid a ballistic effect the probe is approximated with nonlinear velocity. The probe touches the cornea at a right-angle under direct vision of the examiner.

Usefulness of corneal esthesiometry for screening diabetic retinopathy

“…Alterations on corneal esthesiometry caused by retinal photocoagulation have been cited in the literature 11,12 but this factor was not related to a decrease in corneal esthesiometry in the present series. Recent studies with modern lasers have also failed to detect this relation.…”

Estrogen Stimulation of Proinflammatory Cytokine and Matrix Metalloproteinase Gene Expression in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

“…15 Furthermore, estrogen treatment has been reported to induce photophobia, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, heightened sensitivity, contact lens intolerance, and fluctuations in corneal thickness, edema, and curvature. [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] These effects may explain why hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women may decrease visual acuity 44 and why oral contraceptive use in premenopausal women may increase corneal hydration, sensitivity, and contact lens discomfort [45][46][47] and lead to an elevated blink rate. 48 However, it is important to note that our results related to 17b-estradiol and corneal inflammatory gene expression have been found in immortalized cells.…”

Corneal Biomechanical Properties during the Menstrual Cycle

“…Leach et al 22 and Kiely et al 20 studied corneal thickness and curvature, while Hashemi et al 8 studied the same variables using Pentacam. Riss et al 17 studied corneal sensitivity and Giuffre et al 19 studied color discrimination during the menstrual cycle. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published article in the English literature describing the effects of the menstrual cycle on corneal biomechanical properties.…”

“…13,15 Numerous studies have been done correlating various ocular variables with hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. 8,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Feldman et al 16 assessed anterior chamber depth, IOP, corneal thickness, and tear production. Leach et al 22 and Kiely et al 20 studied corneal thickness and curvature, while Hashemi et al 8 studied the same variables using Pentacam.…”