Leading eye care clinic Centre for Sight is using Menopause Awareness Month to highlight how menopause can significantly impact women's eyesight. Hormonal shifts during this stage of life can lead to dry eyes, blurred vision, discomfort, and other eye-related issues that affect daily living, wellbeing, and overall health.
Why Menopause Affects Eye Health
Dry eye syndrome, which affects around two million people in the UK, disproportionately impacts women, largely due to menopause. Symptoms include persistent grittiness, itchiness, burning, pain, or tiredness in the eyes. These sensations often worsen throughout the day and can become uncomfortable or even painful.
Severe cases of dry eye can increase the risk of corneal infection or ulceration, potentially leading to permanent vision loss. The underlying cause is linked to decreased production of androgens, progesterone, and oestrogen during menopause, which affects all three layers of the tear film. This reduces both the quantity and quality of tears, leading to increased evaporation, dryness, and discomfort.
Expert Advice and Treatment Options
Marcela Espinosa-Lagana, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Centre for Sight, is urging women to take charge of their eye health and seek medical advice when needed. "Many women don't realise that menopause can impact their eyesight," she said. "Eye symptoms such as dryness, irritation or visual changes should not be ignored."
For mild cases, self-care options such as warm compresses, lubricating eye drops, and Omega-3 supplements can provide relief. However, severe or persistent symptoms may require specialist treatment, including steroid eye drops, punctal occlusion, intense pulsed light (IPL), and low-level light therapy (LLLT).
Encouraging Regular Eye Checks
Espinosa-Lagana added, "If menopausal women are experiencing any of these symptoms persistently, I would urge them to seek help, get regular eye checks, and explore treatment options rather than suffer in silence."
Centre for Sight encourages women to learn more about managing menopausal eye symptoms. Additional information is available at centreforsight.com.
