Research Article

The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium

Volume: 8 Number: 1 January 6, 2026
TR EN

The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium

Abstract

Aims: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are commonly used as adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of systemic AI treatment on tear film stability, meibomian gland structure, and corneal endothelial cell characteristics by comparing patients receiving AIs with age-matched healthy controls, using a combination of noninvasive ocular surface diagnostics and anterior segment imaging. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 60 postmenopausal female participants, divided into two groups: 29 patients receiving systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (AI group), and 31 agematched healthy controls (control group). All participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and dilated fundus examination. Ocular surface disease-related symptoms and signs were recorded. In addition, corneal endothelial parameters were also evaluated. Results: A total of 60 postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study. There was no statistically significant difference in age between the groups (p=0.741). The mean Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score was 23.1±11.5 (range: 10-46) in the AI group and 16.2±6.8 (range: 10-34) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference observed (p=0.005). No statistically significant differences were found in tests evaluating other ocular surface parameters. Specular microscopy analysis revealed that the mean coefficient of variation (CV) values were significantly higher in the AI group (42.9±6.6) compared to the control group (33.7±3.4; p<0.001). Additionally, the hexagonal cell ratio (HEX, %) was significantly lower in the AI group (42.7±4.9) than in the control group (46.1±5.0; p=0.014). Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that systemic AI therapy is associated with increased subjective dry eye symptoms and subtle changes in corneal endothelial morphology in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Ophthalmology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 6, 2026

Submission Date

November 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 1, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1

APA
Dursun, E., Yalçın, S., Akça, O., Çobanoğlu Öztürk, S., Onaran, Z., & Bayar Muluk, N. (2026). The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(1), 61-65. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1818870
AMA
1.Dursun E, Yalçın S, Akça O, Çobanoğlu Öztürk S, Onaran Z, Bayar Muluk N. The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(1):61-65. doi:10.38053/acmj.1818870
Chicago
Dursun, Erdem, Selim Yalçın, Oğuzhan Akça, Seval Çobanoğlu Öztürk, Zafer Onaran, and Nuray Bayar Muluk. 2026. “The Impact of Systemic Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy on the Tear Film, Meibomian Glands, and Corneal Endothelium”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (1): 61-65. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1818870.
EndNote
Dursun E, Yalçın S, Akça O, Çobanoğlu Öztürk S, Onaran Z, Bayar Muluk N (January 1, 2026) The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 1 61–65.
IEEE
[1]E. Dursun, S. Yalçın, O. Akça, S. Çobanoğlu Öztürk, Z. Onaran, and N. Bayar Muluk, “The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 61–65, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.38053/acmj.1818870.
ISNAD
Dursun, Erdem - Yalçın, Selim - Akça, Oğuzhan - Çobanoğlu Öztürk, Seval - Onaran, Zafer - Bayar Muluk, Nuray. “The Impact of Systemic Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy on the Tear Film, Meibomian Glands, and Corneal Endothelium”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/1 (January 1, 2026): 61-65. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1818870.
JAMA
1.Dursun E, Yalçın S, Akça O, Çobanoğlu Öztürk S, Onaran Z, Bayar Muluk N. The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:61–65.
MLA
Dursun, Erdem, et al. “The Impact of Systemic Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy on the Tear Film, Meibomian Glands, and Corneal Endothelium”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 61-65, doi:10.38053/acmj.1818870.
Vancouver
1.Erdem Dursun, Selim Yalçın, Oğuzhan Akça, Seval Çobanoğlu Öztürk, Zafer Onaran, Nuray Bayar Muluk. The impact of systemic aromatase inhibitor therapy on the tear film, meibomian glands, and corneal endothelium. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026 Jan. 1;8(1):61-5. doi:10.38053/acmj.1818870

 

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