The oral contraceptive pill or pill as known by many is a type of female contraceptive that is taken every day to prevent pregnancy. Oral contraceptives come in several types, including the estrogen-containing pill, the progestin-only pill, and the combined pill that contains both estrogen and progestin. Both estrogen and progestin hormones work by blocking the production of eggs, thus preventing the release of eggs from the ovary. However, the pill has some side effects which could be ocular or systemic. Studies have found that there is a link between long-term use of oral contraceptives and eye health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay It has long been known that there is some sort of association between female sex hormones and IOP changes. The oral contraceptive contains artificial estrogens and progestins. Estrogens are believed to cause a decline in intraocular pressure and therefore a decrease in the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma when taken by women as hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Previous studies suggested that an estrogen-deficient state causes worsening of the optic nerve, which eventually turns into glaucoma. The structure of the outflow is influenced by both estrogens and progestins and these play a role in the regulation of intraocular pressure. News that there is an association between the oral contraceptive pill and glaucoma made a splash in the media and on the Internet when researchers from the Ophthalmology Academy's 2013 Annual Meeting presented the report. The investigation in question establishes that women who took oral contraceptives (OCs) for three years and longer had a greater risk of developing primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in later life. However, as the media spread the story, one of the co-authors, Shan Lin, MD, at the University of California, San Francisco, stressed that further studies are needed to confirm the findings, which were based on self-reporting of a diagnosis of glaucoma by patients. Scientists have noted that there are different formulations of oral contraceptives; some contain only progestin, which suppresses estrogen, as stated in the first paragraph. However, even oral contraceptives that contain estrogen contain just enough to disrupt ovulation, thus altering monthly hormonal patterns. Additionally, formulations have changed since the first oral contraceptive was accepted in 1960, with the first generation containing higher levels of estrogen than existing ones. shapes. Whether changes in formulation over time have affected glaucoma risk is still an ongoing study by Dr. Kang. It seems that scientists are gathering evidence to support the theory that estrogen may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma little by little. They theorized that reduced exposure to estrogen increases the vulnerability of the optic nerve to glaucomatous damage and that estrogen may provide a shielding consequence against glaucoma. In the 2000s, a series of studies discovered risk relationships between numerous reproductive factors and glaucoma. These studies have been conducted on early menopause, late menarche, oophorectomy, and, more recently, oral contraceptive use. Some studies have found protective effects from late menopause or hormone replacement therapy. The mechanism of the protective effect of estrogensremains uncertain, however most evidence suggests it may be neuroprotective, Dr. Lin said. He detailed that estrogen receptors are expressed in a selection of ocular tissues, as well as in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), where estrogen appears to have a maintenance effect. A single systematic theory holds that estrogen triggers the synthesis of collagen fibers, accumulating the amount of collagen fiber on the laminacribrosa, thus cultivating the conformity of the structure. This could relieve compression on the axons of retinal ganglion cells, promoting their survival. The doctor said that the enlarged collagen fiber will also likely increase the flexibility of the entire eye, which would lead to a drop in intraocular pressure. We know that early loss of estrogen is associated with increased risks of a range of health effects, including several conditions related to brain aging,” said Dr. Vajaranant. “We also know that the main risk factor for glaucoma is older age. Therefore, one possibility is that early loss of estrogen causes premature aging of the optic nerve and predisposes it to glaucomatous damage. Recent reports say there is an increased risk of glaucoma in women taking oral contraceptive pills. The reports attempt to answer the question raised previously by researchers as to what the exact role of estrogen and progesterone is in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Studies show that women who take oral contraceptive pills for more than 3 years are more likely to develop glaucoma than women who do not take the pill. In America, it is estimated that approximately 11 million or more women currently give birth. birth control pills to prevent pregnancy, while hormone replacement therapy is commonly used to regulate menopausal symptoms. And the question researchers are asking is, "did you know that their use can also cause a variety of side effects that include dry eyes and glaucoma, both of which can lead to vision problems or even vision loss?" The use of oral contraceptive pills is associated with eye health. One of the most common complaints for women taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy is dry eye, a common and often chronic condition in which there are not enough tears to lubricate and nourish the eye well. A well-known cause of dry eye is hormonal changes, which can be transmitted using contraceptive or hormone replacement methods. According to the National Eye Institute, women who take estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy are 70 percent more likely to develop dry eyes, while women who use both estrogen and progesterone are 30 percent more likely to develop dry eyes. Through logistic regression models and considering potential confounders, they found that women who had used oral contraceptives, regardless of type, for more than three years were twice as likely to report expecting a diagnosis of glaucoma. Estrogen has been linked to glaucoma. more than once by researchers from around the world. A previous report published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology linked early menopause to a higher risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the onset of menopause at an older age with a reduced risk of primary open-angle glaucoma. Furthermore, a prospective cohort study on the generative factors and risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, as part of the Nurses' Health Study, presented aincreased risk of incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma in women who used oral contraceptives for more than five years. The potential reason behind this increased risk could be the fact that these oral contraceptive pills lead to a lowering of estrogen levels in the body of women who take them, thereby abolishing the normal peak-and-trough pattern of estrogen levels, leading to effective estrogen deficiency. state. However, the exact relationship between these hormones and the risk of open-angle glaucoma needs to be further considered, and this can be successfully achieved by combining an adequate pharmacovigilance program. Doctors prescribing oral contraceptive pills and patients receiving them should be informed of the co-existing risk of open-angle glaucoma, so that any slight changes in intraocular pressure are reported, to reveal a possible association between the use of contraceptive pills oral contraceptives and future glaucoma risk, if any Some scientists and doctors say it is too early to make recommendations about contraceptive use and glaucoma risk, but suggest that any woman over age 40 who uses the pills should be screened for glaucoma and have your eyes examined by a doctor. ophthalmologist. The outcome of the exam will help with further research and help improve eye health. Although the study shows an association, not a relationship, a British researcher Dr. Lin suggests that the use of oral contraceptives could be considered as part of the risk profile for glaucoma, along with other permanent risk factors. Her study was cross-sectional and included 3,406 women aged 40 and older, from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The women completed a vision and multiplicative health questionnaire and undertook eye exams. Lin does not recommend advising patients to stop oral contraceptives based on his study. But then they should be advised to undergo eye screening if they have a history of long-term oral contraceptive practice, along with other risk factors such as African-American ancestry, a family history of glaucoma, or a history of increased intraocular pressure or blood pressure. current field of vision. shortcomings. Finally, longitudinal studies and blinded clinical trials are needed to identify any effects of long-term oral contraceptive use on glaucoma risk. Scientists have warned that the pill could play a role in glaucoma and have advised women at risk to undergo vision screening. Glaucoma is triggered by a buildup of fluid pressure in the eye, causing endless damage to the optic nerve. The most common chronic form of the disease is thought to affect around 480,000 people in the UK. Previous studies have suggested that the hormone estrogen, a major component of the pill, may be involved in the growth of glaucoma. At the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual summit in New Orleans, the new finding was presented following a study of 3,406 women aged 40 and older who were asked about their reproductive history and underwent an eye exam . Even with the well-known advertising, as well as the common use of oral contraceptives, many women ask their eye doctors about the potential risks. Taking a step back and taking a broader look at what current research says about the role estrogen plays in glaucoma could help answer patients' fears. Studies have shown that growing evidence of the impact of female sex hormones on glaucoma suggests that there are distinctive risk factors 2010;; 2011.