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Central cornea thickness changes during menstrual cycle, study finds

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The central cornea is thinnest at the beginning of a woman's menstrual cycle and gradually thickens as the cycle progresses, a study found. The finding suggests that estrogen may have a role in corneal physiology, the study authors said.

Giuseppe Giuffré, PhD, and colleagues measured central corneal thickness (CCT) at various time points in 16 healthy women of reproductive age. Their findings are published in the February issue of Cornea.

The investigators found CCT was thinnest at 1 to 3 days into the cycle, averaging 536 µm. During ovulation, CCT had significantly increased to a mean 549 µm (P = .003), and at days 27 to 32, increased to a mean 559 µm (P = .001), according to the study.

"These changes could be secondary to hormonal influences," the authors said. "Estrogen receptors can be found in human corneas, suggesting that estrogen may have a role in corneal physiology."