Identification and Hormonal Control of Sex Steroid Receptors in the Eye

During the past several decades, it has become quite evident that androgens, estrogens and progestins may exert a significant influence on the structure and/or function of a variety of ocular tissues, including the lacrimal gland, meibomian gland, conjunctiva, goblet cells, cornea, anterior chamber, lens and/or retina.1,2 The nature of these sex steroid effects appears to involve modulation of such ocular parameters as tissue morphology, gene expression, protein synthesis, lipid production, mucous secretion, aqueous tear output, tear film stability, immunological activity, corneal curvature, aqueous humor outflow and visual acuity.1,2 In addition, these hormones have been proposed as topical therapies for such conditions as dry eye syndromes (both aqueous-deficient and evaporative), corneal wound healing and high intraocular pressure.1,3,4 However, despite these findings, very little information exists concerning the precise target cells for sex steroid action, the specific ocular processes controlled by these hormones, or the mechanisms (e.g. classical vs. non-classical) underlying potential sex steroid-eye interactions.