Combined esterified estrogen and methyltestosterone treatment for dry eye syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Author(s): Scott G, Yiu SC, Wasilewski D, Song J, Smith RE

Affiliation(s): Ocular Surface Center, Doheny Eye Institute, 1450 San Pablo Street DE15704, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.

Publication date & source: 2005-06, Am J Ophthalmol., 139(6):1109-10.

Publication type:

PURPOSE: To determine whether systemic replacement with combined esterified estrogen (EE) and methyltestosterone (MT) (EE + MT) would reduce symptoms and promote clinical improvement in postmenopausal women with dry eye syndrome (DES). DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. METHODS: Investigators reviewed the charts of 11 postmenopausal women treated within the last 3 years with EE + MT. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 65.2 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.4, range 48-84 years). The mean treatment duration was 12.2 months (SD 6.2 months, range 4-24 months). Ten (91%) of 11 patients reported improvement in dry eye symptoms while receiving treatment. For these 10, relief occurred after an average of 4.1 months of treatment (SD 3.2, range, 1-9 months). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with EE + MT may be efficacious for DES of various etiologies. A randomized placebo-controlled trial is planned to further evaluate these encouraging findings.