Did you know that dry eyes are a condition commonly associated with menopause? If you are menopausal, and you feel your eyes are dry, then you may want to talk to your eye doctor.
While no one is sure what the cause of dry eyes in menopausal women is, some eye doctors think that the cause may be that after menopause, there is a decrease in certain hormones that help with tear production. Another theory is that menopausal women experience a disruption of chemical signals that maintain a healthy tear film. Whatever the cause may be, dry eyes can affect your day to day activities.
Some symptoms of dry eye are irritated, scratchy, dry, uncomfortable, or red eyes; a burning sensation, foreign body sensation in your eyes, and blurred vision. Excessive dry eyes may even damage eye tissue, impair vision, and scar corneas If you have dry eye, you will notice that these symptoms will feel worse at the end of the day, after a long day of reading, or being on the computer.
Your eye doctor can recommend treatments to help alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes. Some treatments include eye drops, dietary supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, or a combination of treatments.
If you are interested in wearing contact lenses, your eye doctor can recommend a contact lens that is best for you. One option you can ask about are CooperVision’s Proclear 1 day multifocal contact lenses, which are the only contact lenses on the market to carry the FDA cleared labeling statement, ‘May provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear.’
If you want to learn more about dry eye after menopause, make sure to see your eye doctor.