Effects of hormone replacement therapy on lens opacity, serum inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidant levels

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lens opacity as measured by Scheimpflug densitometry, serum inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidant levels. Methods: A total of 264 women who were at least five years beyond menopause were included. The control group of 128 patients (Group 1) did not use HRT at any time after menopause. The treatment group of 136 patients (Group 2) used HRT for5 years or more after menopause. Cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular density; pentacam nucleus staging (PNS); pentacam densitometry of zone (PDZ) as measured using a Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam); and antioxidant and inflammatory cytokines activities in serum using multiplex bead analysiswere examined. Results: Uncorrected visual acuity (logMAR) of group1 was significantly worse than those of group 2 (p