Postmenopausal intraocular pressure changes in southern Indian females

Background: Normal Intraocular pressure (IOP) is an essential prerequisite for the eye to serve its function as a light gathering and transducer organ. Various physiological factors which include age, gender and hormonal variations may influence IOP in normal subjects and these effects sometimes may be marked and relatively sustained. The present study was an attempt which was made to observe the effect of menopause on IOP and the contribution of altered Body Mass Index (BMI). Methodology: A total of 120 females who were in the age group of 40 - 55 years, who were recruited for the study, were divided into two groups of 60 each: premenopausal and postmenopausal, based on their menstrual history. The BMI of the subjects was then calculated. IOP was recorded in all individuals and it was compared between the two groups by using Student's 't' test. The IOP was also correlated with BMI. A p value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The results of the present study showed that there was a significant increase in the IOP in the postmenopausal group as compared to that in premenopausal women. Moreover, it showed a significant positive correlation with BMI in post menopausal women. Conclusion: The higher IOP in postmenopausal women could be ascribed to dwindling levels of oestrogen and progesterone after menopause, which could act by altering any/several components of the IOP regulating mechanisms. A large body size, as was indicated by BMI, was associated with additional increases in IOP. The present study, therefore, provides further insights into the interactions between BMI and paucity of sex hormones in influencing the IOP.