AIM: To investigate the relationship between postmenopausal estrogen level and senile cataract.

METHODS: The experiment was divided into two groups: control group(postmenopausal healthy women), postmenopausal senile cataract patients group. The β-estradiol(E₂)serum levels of postmenopausal patients with senile cataract and those of the control group were measured by radio immunoassay.

RESULTS: The E₂ levels in postmenopausal patients with senile cataract sharply decreased compared to those in healthy postmenopausal women, with the differential expression from the control group having a statistical significance(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of senile cataract in postmenopausal women is related to the lack of estrogen, and estrogen has protective effect on cataract.