Evaluation of the macula, retinal nerve fiber layer and choroid thickness in postmenopausal women and reproductive-age women using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

• Published in: Przegla̜d menopauzalny 2014-03, Vol.13 (1), p.36-41
• Main Authors: Ataş, Mustafa, Açmaz, Gökhan, Aksoy, Hüseyin, Demircan, Süleyman, Göktaş, Altan, Arifoğlu, Hasan Basri, Zararsız, Gökmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: choroid; macula; menopause; optical coherence tomography; Original Paper; retinal nerve fiber layer
• ISSN: 1643-8876; 2299-0038
• DOI: 10.5114/pm.2014.41088

Menopause is a physiological life period that potentially affects various organs and systems. Therefore, a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms of eyes may be clinically observed in the postmenopausal period. To evaluate the macular, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness alterations by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in postmenopausal women and compare with healthy reproductive-age women controls. The study population included a healthy reproductive-age control group (n = 72) and postmenopausal study group (n = 72). Retinal thickness parameters were measured by SD-OCT. Peripapillary RNFL thickness parameters, macular thickness and choroidal thickness were evaluated. Superior inner macula, temporal inner macula, inferior inner macula, nasal inner macula, inferior outer macula and choroid thickness were significantly thinner in the postmenopausal study group than the healthy reproductive-age control group (p = 0.007, p = 0.037, p = 0.027, p = 0.006, p = 0.016, p < 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for age, only choroid thickness was significantly thinner in the postmenopausal study group than controls (p (†) = 0.005). This study revealed that choroidal thickness measured by SD-OCT was significantly thinner in postmenopausal women than healthy reproductive-age women. We can speculate that the decrease in choroidal thickness in postmenopausal women may indicate a reduced estrogen-dependent vasodilatory effect in ophthalmic artery secondary to menopausal estrogen deficiency.