性周期と角膜厚の変化について

Corneal thickness changes with the menstrual cycle

　性ホルモンの角膜に及ぼす影響を検討するために，一つの方法として性周期に伴う角膜の厚みの変化を検討した．正常な性周期を有する19歳から29歳の女性12例24眼を対象とし，超音波pachometerを用いて一定時刻に計測した．その結果，角膜の厚みが性周期とともに有意の変化を示すこと，すなわち，排卵期直後の数日間は増加し，その後月経開始日に向かって減少することを確認した．このことは，性ホルモンが角膜の厚みに影響を与えていることを示唆する．

We measured the corneal thickness in 24 eyes of 12 healthy females aged between 19 and 29 years. Ultrasonic pachometer was used throughout. Pre-liminary measurements of the corneal thickness were conducted from 8 o'clock in the morning till 8 o'clock in the evening at an 2-hour interval. We could observe the presence of diurnal rhythmical fluctuation in the corneal thickness. In the majorityof cases, the corneal thickness attained the mini-mum value at 4 pm.

We then measured the corneal thickness between 4 and 5 pm, 3 times a week for up to 2 months. The corneal thickness increased for one week after ovulation and then started to decrease till the onset of menstruation. The finding indicates that the corneal thickness changes along with the menstrual cycle, probably due to the influence by sex hor-mones.

Rinsho Ganda (Jpn J Clin Ophthalmol) 41(7) : 751-753, 1987