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

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 < .05). Group1 was significantly more myopic than group 2 (p < .05). Nuclear and posterior subcapsular density, PNS, and percentage of PDZ in group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 2 (p < .05). The serum IL-1m. IL-6, IL-8, and TGF-, concentrations of group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 2, and the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD 1), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD 2) fluorescence intensities of group 1 were significantly lower than those of group 2 (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of HRT may have a protective effect against cataract formation. HRT seems to be effective in decreasing inflammation and increasing antioxidant contents in the serum of postmenopausal women. KEY MESSAGES: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decrease lens opacity in postmenopausal women as measured by Scheimpflug densitometry. HRT decrease serum inflammatory cytokines and increase antioxidant levelsin the serum of postmenopausal women. Long-term use of HRT may have a protective effect against cataract formationin postmenopausal women.