Ostrogen-Therapie in Keratokonjunktivitis Sicca

Abstract

The conjunctiva seems to be a estrogen-sensitive tissue. In a randomized placebo controlled double blind study we investigated the effect of topically applied 3% estradiol ointment on the conjunctiva. Twenty postmenopausal women were enrolled in our study. Schirmer test, tear film break up time, rose bengal staining score and subjective assessment of dry eye symptoms with a standardized questionnaire were performed before and four weeks after the therapy. After four weeks of treatment the mean value of Schirmer test increased from 6.1 to 8.9 mm in the hormone group. In the same sample the mean value of break-up time also increased from 11.3 to 15.7 sec. The rose bengal score decreased from 1.7 to 1.35 in hormone treated group, and subjectively 7/10 patients of both groups felt better or the same after the therapy. The changes in the results of Schirmer test and BUT were statistically significant (p = 0.01 and p = 0.05, respectively). The change in rose bengal staining were too small to be statistically significant.