A study published in November 2001 in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a relationship between hormone replacement therapy and dry eye syndrome. The study suggested that women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at an increased risk of developing dry eye syndrome over women who do not use HRT.

This four-year study was conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and researchers looked at data from over 25,000 post-menopausal women. The study suggests that of the 38% of post-menopausal women who use HRT, those taking estrogen alone had 66% to 70% higher risk of developing dry eye syndrome than women who had never used HRT. Women on a combination of estrogen and progestin had a 30% higher risk of developing dry eye syndrome than women who had never used HRT.

Since the relationship between HRT and dry eye syndrome is not well understood, additional research is still needed. However, this study does suggest that women who are considering HRT should be informed of the possibility of developing dry eye syndrome while on this treatment regimen. Even without HRT, women have more problems than men with dry eyes, these problems become more common as we age, and certain diseases and medications can make these symptoms worse.