Posters

Effect of hormonal changes on corneal biomechanical properties and anterior segment ocular parameters

Poster Details

First Author: J. González-Méijome PORTUGAL

Co Author(s):    L. Rico-del-Viejo   R. Macedo-de-Araujo   H. Ferreira-Neves   R. Ambrosio Jr   J. Salgado-Borges        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the changes in the corneal biomechanics and the corneal morphometric parameters that may be related with the hormonal fluctuations during the monthly menstrual cycle in healthy women.

Setting:

CEORLab - Center of Physics, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Methods:

Thirty-eight eyes from 38 participants (20 females; mean age=24.90±4.19 years and 18 males; mean age=28.83±6.09 years) were evaluated during one month. All measurements were taken on day 1 of the cycle ±1 (same day of menstruation), day 7±2 (follicular phase), day 14±2 (ovulatory phase), day 21±2 (luteal phase) and day 28±2 (pre-menstrual phase). Morphometric biomechanical properties were assessed using Pentacam, ORA and CorVis ST.

Results:

After the evaluation period, the female group showed changes statistically significant in ACD (p=0.021), ACV (p<0.001), IOPg (p=0.011), IOPcc (p=0.028), CH (p=0.047), length of applanation 1(A1L) (p=0.019), velocity of applanation 1 (A1V) (p=0.044), applanation time 2 (A2T) (p=0.026), velocity of applanation 2 (A2V) (p=0.018) and in the distance between the peaks at the highest concavity (PD)(p=0.033) in the different phases of menstrual cycle. Concerning the male group as a control group, it showed changes statistically significant in ACV (p<0.001) and in the time from start until the highest concavity is reached (HC-Time) (p=0.043).Comparing both groups, statistically significant differences were found in CCT (p=0.003), TCP (p=0.002), A2T (p=0.023) and in radius of curvature at highest concavity (HC-Radius) (p=0.019).

Conclusions:

This pilot study sheds light on this controversial issue, showing that females and males present different patterns of changes in the corneal biomechanical properties but despite of that, the corneal response is similar between females under oral contraceptive treatment and males.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE