ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the variations in intraocular pressure (IOP) across different phases of the menstrual cycle—namely, the menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases—and to investigate the correlation between hormonal fluctuations and IOP changes among female undergraduate students at the University of Benin. A cross-sectional study design was employed using convenience sampling to recruit 100 female students aged 15–30 years with regular menstrual cycles. IOP measurements were obtained using a non-contact tonometer between 9:00 and 10:00 AM during three distinct phases of the cycle: menstrual (days 1–5), follicular (days 6–14), and luteal (days 15–28). Demographic, menstrual, and clinical data were also collected via a structured questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean IOP for the right eye (OD) was 14.15 ± 2.56 mmHg during the menstrual phase, 14.72 ± 2.43 mmHg during the follicular phase, and 15.31 ± 2.36 mmHg during the luteal phase. Similar trends were observed for the left eye (OS), with mean values of 13.92 ± 2.69 mmHg, 14.15 ± 2.50 mmHg, and 14.62 ± 2.50 mmHg, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences in IOP across the phases (OD: F = 90.78, p < 0.001; OS: F = 21.14, p < 0.001). Post-hoc analyses further confirmed significant pairwise differences, suggesting that the elevated progesterone levels during the luteal phase may contribute to higher IOP values. Significant variations in IOP were observed across the menstrual cycle, with the luteal phase demonstrating the highest IOP values. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for menstrual cycle phases in the clinical assessment of IOP, particularly for the early diagnosis and management of glaucoma in women of reproductive age. Future research should further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these hormonal influences and examine the effects of hormonal therapies on ocular physiology.
Keywords: intraocular pressure, menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations, progesterone, estrogen, glaucoma, undergraduate female.
