Question: I am a 51-year-old woman approaching menopause, and besides needing reading glasses, I am also finding my eyes feel dry and gritty throughout the day. Sometimes my eyelids are even red and sore. Has the drop in hormones caused this, or am I just spending too much time on screens?
Answer: Like many of us, you may be spending more time on screens and less time blinking these days, but more than likely the hormonal changes that are happening right now are contributing to your symptoms. Although dry eyes are certainly seen in both men and women, research has shown that lower estrogen can adversely affect the meibomian and lacrimal glands, which are structures in the eye responsible for keeping the surface of your eyes lubricated. When your eyes are not producing enough tears, it can cause the sensation of grittiness or dryness you are experiencing that we call “dry eye syndrome.” If it becomes chronic it can also cause light sensitivity, blurred vision, increased tearing as your eyes overcompensate, and swollen eyelids–all of which can cause significant discomfort if left untreated.
Great progress has been made in our understanding of the causes and effects of dry eye and there are new therapies available to manage it. An expanding array of drops and gels designed to restore the quality and quantity of tears can be purchased over-the-counter from your optometrist or pharmacist, and some more intensive treatments and medications can be prescribed by your optometrist for acute or chronic cases. Looking into solutions for your dry eye syndrome while getting a comprehensive eye exam to rule out any other reasons for the changes in your eye health is a great idea. Relief may be in sight!