Eye diseases in women
Sakumi Kazama1, Junichiro James Kazama2, Noburo Ando3
1Futaba Emergency and General Medicine Support Center, Fukushima Medical University Hospital.
Fukushima Journal of Medical Science
|June 14, 2019
Summary
Sex hormones significantly impact eye diseases, influencing conditions like uveitis and glaucoma. Personalized treatments considering these hormonal fluctuations are increasingly vital for effective eye care.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Ocular tissues possess hormone receptors, suggesting sex-based differences in eye diseases previously thought minimal.
- Female hormone levels fluctuate significantly during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, potentially altering disease states.
- Sex hormones influence corneal thickness in uveitis and may offer therapeutic benefits or risks in other eye conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the influence of sex hormones on various eye diseases.
- To evaluate the potential of estrogen as a therapeutic agent for glaucoma.
- To highlight the importance of gender-specific considerations in ophthalmic treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hormone receptors in ocular tissues.
- Analysis of studies investigating the effects of estrogen on intraocular pressure and glaucoma.
- Examination of research on sex as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy progression.
Main Results:
- Estrogen shows promise in protecting against glaucoma damage and reducing intraocular pressure, particularly in postmenopausal women.
- Hormonal fluctuations affect corneal thickness in uveitis.
- Female sex is identified as an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy progression, indicating estrogen's effect is not always prophylactic.
Conclusions:
- Gender-specific treatment approaches are crucial in ophthalmology due to the significant impact of sex hormones on eye health.
- Estrogen's role in eye diseases is complex, offering potential benefits but also associated with certain risks.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and optimize gender-based ophthalmic therapies.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Muscles of the Eye
4.0K
The muscles of the eye are sophisticated structures that control eye movement and focus, allowing for the precise and rapid adjustments necessary for vision. The human eye is controlled by ten muscles — six extraocular muscles, three intraocular muscles, and one primary eyelid retractor muscle.
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and...
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and...
4.0K
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
3.4K
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
3.4K
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
5.5K
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
5.5K
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
989
Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
989
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
2.0K
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
2.0K
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
484
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
484