Menopause is a natural progression of a woman’s reproductive lifespan. You no longer have menstrual periods and cannot get pregnant. This is because the ovaries stop producing eggs, and the production of sex hormones also decreases. Of course, menopause affects every aspect of your life. In this article, we will try to understand the relationship between menopause and eyes.
Menopause, Eyes and Vision Related Changes
Dry Eyes
One of the major vision-related changes after menopause is dry eyes.
Estrogens and androgens, the sex hormones, are crucial for the eye’s lubrication system, especially the Meibomian Glands. Therefore, a decrease in the hormone levels can cause dry eyes.
The tear film made up of three layers. These include the aqueous layer, the lipid layer and the mucin layer. The Meibomian glands, located within the eyelids, produce the lipid ( or oily) layer, which keeps the tear film stable.
Glaucoma
Research indicates that menopause may increase the risk of glaucoma development. Also, estrogen replacement therapy (also called HRT or hormone replacement therapy) has been known to cause a small reduction of intraocular pressure.
Menopause and Eyes: Vision and Age
These conditions are common to both genders, and associated with ageing, and not menopause. However, since menopause is seen in older women, post menopausal women will experience vision related changes, associated with ageing. All of these diseases are also known to be more common in women.
These include:
Cataracts
Cataracts are normal to ageing, due to clouding of the eye’s lens. They result in a gradual, progressive, painless blurring of vision.
Surgery can remove cataracts and restore clear vision. Though cataracts are common in older people, women are at a higher risk of developing them than males.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is more common in women, worldwide. This disease is characterised by optic nerve damage, usually due to increased eye pressures. Glaucoma therapy usually includes eye drops, lasers or surgery.
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects light-sensitive cells at the back of your eyes on the retina. Women made up 65% of AMD cases, and this disease too affects the elderly.
Menopause and Eyes: When to Ask for Help
So if you are menopausal, or experiencing the symptoms of peri-menopause, talk to your eye doctor about how you can be more comfortable with your eyes. She will be happy to help you with advice about lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements and medication, if required.
These include:
- Decrease screen time. Take frequent breaks
- Stay hydrated
- Do hot compresses
- Use preservative free lubricating eyedrops
- Consider nutritional supplements to help with dry eyes (omega 3), or with AMD (AREDS supplements including carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin)
- Do regular exercise. Practice mindfulness
- Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar and serum cholesterol under control
