Emma Gibson1, Fiona Stapleton2, Rachel Dear3, James S Wolffsohn4, Blanka Golebiowski5. 1. School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2052. Electronic address: e.j.gibson@unsw.edu.au. 2. School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2052. Electronic address: f.stapleton@unsw.edu.au. 3. The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, 370 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia, 2010. Electronic address: rachel.dear@svha.org.au. 4. Ophthalmic Research Group, Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B47ET, UK. Electronic address: j.s.w.wolffsohn@aston.ac.uk. 5. School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2052. Electronic address: b.golebiowski@unsw.edu.au.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception. METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated. RESULTS: Almost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.
PURPOSE: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception. METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated. RESULTS: Almost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.
Authors: Dragos Serban; Daniel Ovidiu Costea; Anca Zgura; Mihail Silviu Tudosie; Ana Maria Dascalu; Gabriel Andrei Gangura; Catalin Gabriel Smarandache; Alexandru Dan Sabau; Corneliu Tudor; Mihai Faur; Andreea Cristina Costea; Daniela Stana; Simona Andreea Balasescu; Laura Carina Tribus; Ciprian Tanasescu Journal: In Vivo Date: 2022 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Jeremy Chung Bo Chiang; David Goldstein; Terry Trinh; Kimberley Au; Susanna B Park; Arun V Krishnan; Maria Markoulli Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-01-19 Impact factor: 4.379