Dry eye disease (DED) occurs more frequently in women than in men and it’s recognised that hormones play an important role in the health and preservation of ocular surface tissues. Studies have demonstrated a direct link between hormones and susceptibility to DED1-4, linked to the presence of sex-steroid receptors on the meibomian glands - androgens appear to increase the synthesis and secretion of lipids from the meibomian glands, while oestrogen appears to cause a decrease in lipid production5.
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