HOW MENOPAUSE AFFECTS YOUR EYES

One of the most common eye problems associated with menopause is dry eyes. This occurs when there is not enough moisture in the eyes, which can cause discomfort, redness, and a gritty feeling. The decrease in estrogen levels can lead to changes in the tear ducts and reduce the production of tears.

Itchy and sore eyes during menopause can result from hormonal changes and dry eyes. As the body produces less estrogen during perimenopause, the tear glands can produce fewer tears, leading to dry eyes. This can cause the eyes to become itchy and sore, as the lack of moisture can cause irritation and inflammation. Additionally, hormonal changes during menopause can also increase the sensitivity of the eyes to irritants, such as wind, smoke, and dust, which can also cause itching and soreness.

During menopause, a woman’s body produces less estrogen, which can affect the production of tears, leading to dry and watery eyes. This is because estrogen helps regulate the production of tears, and a decrease in estrogen levels can cause the tear glands to produce fewer tears. The decreased tear production can cause the eyes to become dry, irritated, and prone to watering. Additionally, menopause’s hormonal changes can increase sensitivity to irritants, such as wind, smoke, and allergies, which can also cause watery eyes.

Eye floaters, which are small, floating spots in the field of vision, can become more noticeable during menopause. Hormonal changes can cause changes in the vitreous humour, the jelly-like substance in the eye, leading to the formation of floaters.

Some women may experience increased light sensitivity during menopause. This can be due to hormonal changes or other factors, such as migraines, which are more common during this time.

Hormonal changes during menopause can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, leading to temporary blurred vision. Hormonal fluctuations can also affect the shape of the eye and the clarity of the lens.

Difficulty seeing at night is due to hormonal fluctuations that can affect the shape of the eye and the clarity of the lens.

The decrease in estrogen levels can also affect the immune system and increase the risk of eye infections such as conjunctivitis.

Menopause increases the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These conditions can lead to vision loss if not detected and treated early.

Some women may experience migraines during menopause, which can cause visual disturbances such as flashing lights or blind spots.

Tiredness makes a huge difference to the eyes in menopause, so try to get as much sleep as possible and allow your eyes to rest. This means minimising time spent on screens when possible and taking regular screen breaks when it’s not.

The oils you ingest impact the oil makeup in your glands. Opt for foods rich in Omega-3 and 6, such as oily fish, nuts, seeds, eggs and leafy greens to keep your eye’s oil levels in balance. This also helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and osteoporotic disease with menopause.

Pollutants, air conditioning and air travel, can all play havoc with your eyes. Although these factors are often unavoidable, it’s worth taking extra care of your eyes if you fly regularly or spend long hours in air-conditioned environments.

Keep your eyes in check by getting regular eye tests and taking breaks from wearing contact lenses. This will help you monitor any changes that might crop up, so you can take steps before things get worse.

Stress drives inflammation in the body, making Dry Eye symptoms worse. Anything you do to improve your well-being will positively impact your eyes, so stay socially, physically and cognitively active.

If you’re already feeling the effects of Dry Eye, a hot shower, bath or hot flannel can emulsify the hardened fluid build-up and provide much-needed lubrication to your eyes.

Eye Sprays, anti-inflammatory drops, and wipes are available that help with the cleansing and healing process and provide relief against Dry Eye symptoms.

Current studies offer differing opinions on whether Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) helps or hinders eye health. Taking a pragmatic and holistic approach to eye health during menopause by following some of the tips above would be a good approach.

One of the first signs of menopause is irregular menstrual cycles. Women may experience lighter or heavier bleeding, or their periods may become more or less frequent.

Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause, characterised by a sudden feeling of heat that spreads throughout the body. This can be accompanied by sweating, redness, rapid heartbeat and palpitations.

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and insomnia.

Hormonal changes during menopause can cause fluctuations in mood, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression.

Decreased estrogen levels can cause the vaginal tissues to become thinner and drier, leading to discomfort during sexual intercourse and an increased risk of vaginal infections.

Due to vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissues, some women may experience pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Menopause can also cause a decrease in sexual desire or libido. This can be due to physical and emotional symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and mood swings.

Some women may experience increased headaches, particularly migraines, during menopause.

Menopause can cause weight gain, especially around the abdominal area. This weight gain is often due to hormonal changes and increased body fat.

Some women may experience fatigue and decreased energy levels during menopause - due to reduced hormone levels and trouble sleeping.

Decreased estrogen levels can cause joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the hands, wrists, and knees, due to hormonal changes and increased inflammation.

Hormonal changes during menopause can cause memory problems, including difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness.

Menopause can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and frequent urination.

Menopause can cause dry, itchy skin and a loss of elasticity due to decreased estrogen levels.

Some women may experience hair thinning and loss during menopause - especially around the hairline and crown.

Menopause can affect the eyes, including dry eyes, eye floaters, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and more. Read the section above.

Hormonal changes during menopause can cause muscle cramps, especially in the legs.

Menopause can cause changes in body odour due to hormonal changes and increased sweating.

Menopause can cause digestive problems such as bloating, indigestion, and constipation.

Some women may experience ringing in the ears or tinnitus during menopause.

Symptoms can vary in severity and duration, and not all women will experience all of them.

Dry, tired gritty eyes. Sometimes red, sore eyes. Your glands (meibomian and lacrimal) and microbiomes in the mucin layer of your tears are affected by hormonal changes during menopause. It's gradual (almost in the background) and increases as perimenopause and menopause progress.

Yes, you can. With allergies, your eyes have a constant itching feeling - and when you look under the microscope, the surface of your eyes looks like cobbled streets. You'll also get morning stickiness (stringy mucus) and possibly an irritated, runny nose. Also likely to trigger asthma. Antihistamines (tablets or drops) can help with this. With menopause, you get a dry, sore, deep achy feeling. You just feel like you want to close your eyes. Drops, sprays and a good, targeted supplement will help alleviate this.

It has always been known that perimenopause and menopause cause symptoms in your eyes. I'm not sure why it's not talked about more widely.

Apart from HRT, approach it more naturally - a good diet with plenty of omegas and green leafy vegetables. You will have some good days and some (very) bad days. When you’re having a bad day - remember that the good days are just over the horizon. It tends to worsen in the wintertime, in urban areas with pollution, or when you’ve had less sleep. Get yourself some preservative-free drops and sprays - to help you through this. You should see an optician if it becomes unmanageable (even after the drops and sprays).

During menopause, the secretions from your meibomian glands go from an olive oil to a stiff toothpaste-like consistency. Warm compresses and hot showers help melt these...almost like butter in a pan.

Menopause is a chapter in your life that eventually finishes. Unfortunately, the symptoms can continue for some people.

Your cornea needs this silky, smooth, soothing mucin layer to cover it. During menopause, with the changes in your glands and secretion, you get dry patches on the surface of your eyes. This causes 'reflex tearing' - when you get tears streaming down your face. This tearing doesn't solve the dry patches and creates a vicious loop. The mucus, water and oil in your tear film are out of kilter. Use preservative-free drops and sprays to help stabilise your tear film.

When you have poor tear quality, the top fat layer in your tear film cannot contain the water layer beneath, resulting in dry patches on the eye's surface. Your eyes respond by tearing – but the issue of dry patches remains. Using a liposomal eye spray reinforces the top fat layer of the tear film and seals in the water layer, removing the dry patches. It may sound counter-intuitive, but when you're tearing excessively, apply more liposomal eye spray - to strengthen and seal your tear film. Eventually, this will stop the dry patches and deal with the streaming tears.

That's a whole topic on its own. Dawn's written a whole blog on Eye Makeup and your Eyes.

Yes, they do. With age, you tend to get more redness, yellowness, and sometimes a bumpy vein on the surface. With age, your lids change shape as your skin changes. This affects how your eyelids shut and how they spread tears across the surface of your eyes.

In short, you can't. I suggest you minimise the risk of infections and keep your eyes moisturised. Any drops or sprays must always be preservative-free to avoid sensitivity reactions. There are many vasoconstrictors (stopping or reducing blood to the surface of your eyes) on the market. But the long-term effects have not been studied, and I urge caution. Your eyes can also have a 'rebound' vasodilation when you stop using them, making them redder. And once you've got the redness, it's had to get rid of it.