The influence of the estrogens on a retinal blood vessels

Introduction
To define the influence of the estrogens on a retinal blood vessels.

Material and methods
20 healthy women, mean age 23.5 ± 1.55 with normal laboratory investigations and with regular fundus and blood vessels appearance, participated in our study. Fundus examination was performed with fundus camera Canon NF 505 and with HRT II. The measurements were made before estrogens application (300 µg dermal plasters) and 36 hours after the application in 4th and 6th day of a period.

Results
The difference between the size of the retinal vessels before and after estrogens application was significant in all cases. In the main branches the increase of a vessel's diameter was 4.4% to 11.22% (mean 7.61% ± 3.21%), p<0.05. The increase in a smaller branches of central retinal artery balanced from 1.2% to 9.2% (mean 5.47 ± 4.11%), p<0.05.

Conclusions
Estrogens have a great vasodilatation effect on a retinal blood vessels. The level of the dilatation after the estrogens’ application is about 8% in main branches and about 5% in a smaller vessels.