Abstract: Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface, which occurs more frequently in women than men, especially postmenopausal women. This sex-related difference in dry eye prevalence is attributed in large part to the effects of sex steroids. At present，the role of estrogen at the ocular surface is less well defined, but the protective effect of androgen at the ocular surface have been clear. Androgen on the ocular surface is mainly derived from the synthesis of androgen precursor in local tissues. Androgen functions by combining with androgen receptors on the ocular surface. Animal experiments and clinical studies have confirmed that androgen deficiency can cause destruction of the lacrimal gland, leading to aqueous deficient dry eye, or meibomian gland dysfunction, reducing the lipid component of the tear film, leading to evaporative dry eye and androgen replacement therapy can be considered to treat aqueous-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2022, 46: 51-54)

Key words: androgen, dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, androgen replacement therapy