Effects of menopause on the retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex and on intraocular pressure

To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and intraocular pressure in reproductive age and postmenopausal women.The study included 94 eyes of 47 reproductive age women (Group 1) and 94 eyes of 47 postmenopausal women (Group 2). In all women, RNFL and GCC thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography. Intraocular pressure levels were measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Generalized linear mixed models were conducted to test the differences between groups. Age- and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted partial correlation analysis was used to examine the associations between parameters.There was a statistically significant difference in age and BMI between the two groups (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). There was no difference in all RNFL and GCC values between the reproductive age and postmenopausal women. The duration of postmenopause versus average, superior hemisphere, and superior values of RNFL and superior and inferior values of GCC were positively correlated with statistical significance in age- and BMI-adjusted partial correlation coefficient tests (r = 0.254, P = 0.017; r = 0.303, P = 0.004; r = 0.317, P = 0.003; r = 0.301, P = 0.004; r = 0.313, P = 0.003; r = 0.271, P = 0.011, with 95% confidence, respectively).In this study, there was no significant difference in all RNFL and GCC values between the reproductive age and postmenopausal women after adjusting for age and BMI. However, we observed that a long postmenopausal period was associated with higher RNFL and GCC values.