Hormones, Menopause & Vision | Women's Eye Health & Safety Month

​Hormones affect most functions in the body, from energy to weight, so it’s no surprise that your hormones can also affect your eyes. During pregnancy, when hormones are changing, some women might also notice a few changes in their vision or eyes.

We often think of hormonal changes during pregnancy, but that that’s not the only time of a woman’s life when she may experience hormonal shifts. ​ 
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If you are in peri-menopause or menopause, your hormones are probably fluctuating. April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn how hormonal changes during menopause can affect your vision and what you can do to maintain healthy eyes. 

Hormonal Changes in Menopause

Menopause occurs when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. According to the Cleveland Clinic, most women go through menopause in their late 40s to early 50s, when their levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline.
 
Several years before a woman hits menopause though, she may become peri-menopausal. During peri-menopause, hormone levels may fluctuate from month to month. For example, when estrogen levels are out of balance, they may be high one month and low another.
 
Progesterone and testosterone are also produced in women, and levels decrease during the years leading up to menopause. The level of decline varies considerably from woman to woman.

How Hormonal Changes in Menopause Can Affect the Eyes

It’s important to remember that menopause affects women differently. Some women develop several symptoms, such as hot flashes, weight gain, and insomnia. In other cases, women sail through menopause with few, if any, symptoms.
 
Although not everyone will develop vision or eye changes, changing hormone levels during both peri-menopause and menopause may affect your eyes in a few ways. For example, if you never experienced problems with dry eyes, you might be surprised to develop the condition during menopause. As you approach menopause and estrogen and testosterone production declines, the outer and inner tear film also decreases, which can result in dry and irritated eyes.
 
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, decreased estrogen levels can also cause the cornea to develop increasing elasticity and decreased stiffness. This change can affect the way light travels through the eyes, which may lead to blurry vision. Between dryness and changes in the cornea, it can also make wearing contact lenses more uncomfortable.
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Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in Peri-menopause & Menopause

​Keeping your eyes as healthy as possible at all stages in your life helps preserve vision and decrease problems. To maintain good eye health during peri-menopause, menopause, and beyond, consider the following suggestions:

• Have a comprehensive eye exam: A comprehensive eye exam is the only way to diagnose certain eye diseases that are age-related. Although conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma are not related to menopause specifically, they are more likely to occur the older we get. Talk to your eye doctor about how often you should have an eye exam, particularly as you approach menopause.
• Eat a healthy diet, including foods high in omega-3: A diet high in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids promotes healthy tear production. Food rich in omega-3s include walnuts, spinach, and salmon.
• Talk with your doctor about your symptoms: If you develop symptoms such as blurry vision or dry eyes, or you notice any other changes in your eyes, be sure to talk with your doctor. Treatments may be available that can ease discomfort.
• Protect your eyes: It’s important for women to protect their eyes at every age. Be sure to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. Wear sunglasses, even on overcast days. Sunglasses that wrap around your face are also helpful to block the wind, which may contribute to dry eyes. Hats also help to block sunlight from your eyes and your face.
• Treat dry eyes: Dry eyes are not something you just have to put up or live with. There are treatments and lifestyle changes that may help. For example, avoid triggers that irritate the eyes, such as smoke and pollen, which can make dry eyes worse. Consider using a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist. Over the counter or prescription eye drops may also help reduce dry eye symptoms, but be sure to check with your eye doctor before buying to see which ones are right for you.
• Give your eyes a rest: If you spend several hours working at a computer, be sure to take frequent breaks and look away from the screen. Continually looking at a computer screen all day can increase dry eye symptoms.

• Don’t blame everything on menopause: Not all vision changes in women of a certain age are related to menopause. Menopause tends to occur in the late 40s or early 50s. This also tends to be the age range when certain eye conditions often start to develop. Don’t assume every change in vision is due to menopause, so be sure to check with your doctor.

 
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions regarding hormonal changes and vision problems, please contact us so we may assist you. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors or you need a complete eye exam, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
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