Mapping changes in women's visual functions during the menstrual cycle: narrative review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: This article systematically updates the literature on changes in visual functions during the phases of the normal menstrual cycle in women. OBJECTIVES: To update Guttridge's 1994 review of visual structures and functions associated with the menstrual cycle and broaden the search through psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral measurements covering 1994-2020. DESIGN AND SETTING: Narrative review conducted in a neurosciences and behavior laboratory in Brazil. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Clinical Answers and Google Scholar databases were searched. After screening and applying the eligibility criteria, 32 articles were examined. Through this analysis, the following information was extracted: (1) geographical distribution of the study; (2) sample size (according to age and phase of the menstrual cycle); (3) type of measurements according to psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral instruments; (4) vision testing model; (5) visual subcategory evaluated; (6) categories of processed visual stimuli; and (7) main findings. RESULTS: The menstrual phases give rise to significant changes in visual functions, including in relation to orientation and spatial attention, visual campimetry and visual sensitivity. These relate specifically to the follicular and luteal phases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings theoretically expand the effects of menstrual cycles on visual functions found by Guttridge (1994). Despite some inconsistencies in the studies analyzed, it was found that visual processing during the follicular and luteal phases of the normal menstrual cycle of healthy women can explain physiological, cognitive, behavioral and social modulations.

Mapping changes in women's visual functions during the menstrual cycle: narrative review.

BACKGROUND: This article systematically updates the literature on changes in visual functions during the phases of the normal menstrual cycle in women. OBJECTIVES: To update Guttridge's 1994 review of visual structures and functions associated with the menstrual cycle and broaden the search through psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral measurements covering 1994-2020. DESIGN AND SETTING: Narrative review conducted in a neurosciences and behavior laboratory in Brazil. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Clinical Answers and Google Scholar databases were searched. After screening and applying the eligibility criteria, 32 articles were examined. Through this analysis, the following information was extracted: (1) geographical distribution of the study; (2) sample size (according to age and phase of the menstrual cycle); (3) type of measurements according to psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral instruments; (4) vision testing model; (5) visual subcategory evaluated; (6) categories of processed visual stimuli; and (7) main findings. RESULTS: The menstrual phases give rise to significant changes in visual functions, including in relation to orientation and spatial attention, visual campimetry and visual sensitivity. These relate specifically to the follicular and luteal phases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings theoretically expand the effects of menstrual cycles on visual functions found by Guttridge (1994). Despite some inconsistencies in the studies analyzed, it was found that visual processing during the follicular and luteal phases of the normal menstrual cycle of healthy women can explain physiological, cognitive, behavioral and social modulations.

Psychophysical measure of visual luminance contrast during a daily rhythm.

This study evaluated visual sensitivity to luminance contrast during a daily period. Twenty-eight young male adults (M = 24.85; SD = 2.4) with normal color vision and 20/20 visual acuity participated in this study. The circadian pattern was assessed using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a sleep diary. To measure the luminance contrast, we used version 11.0 of the Metropsis software with sine-element frequency stimuli for spatial frequencies of 0.2, 0.6, 1, 3.1, 6.1, 8.8, 13.2, and 15.6 cycles per degree of visual angle (cpd). The stimuli were presented on a 19-inch color cathode ray tube (CRT) video monitor with a resolution of 1024 × 786 pixels, an update rate of 100 Hz, and a photopic luminance of 39.6 cd/m2. There was a significant difference in KSS on the weekdays [χ2(2) = 20.27; p = .001] and in the luminance contrast for frequencies of 13.2 cpd [χ2(2) = 8.27; p = .001] and 15.6 cpd [χ2(2) = 13.72; p = .041]. The results showed greater stability of the measurement during the afternoon and a reduction in the visual sensitivity in the high spatial frequencies during the night.