Eye Health and the Menopause
The menopause can cause eye problems including dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts and changes in eyesight and eye shape, making contact lenses less comfortable and increasing the need corrective lenses for reading.
Dry Eye – around 60% of women experience dry eye during menopause, which can cause itchy red or tired eyes that feel scratchy or gritty. Other symptoms include blurriness, sensitivity to light, blurry and watery eyes.
Cataracts – the prevalence of cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) is higher in postmenopausal women than in men of the same age. Symptoms develop slowly and painlessly and often begin after 60. Visual problems include glare sensitivity, cloudy vision, difficulty seeing at night, double vision, and loss of colour intensity.
Glaucoma – is another condition for which age is a leading risk factor, regardless of sex. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damages the optic nerve, from increased pressure in the eye. It can permanently damage vision and lead to blindness if untreated.
As a woman going through menopause, this brings the risk of several eye conditions, therefore regular eye exams are vital in finding eye disease early, so we can start treatment as soon as possible. Any concerns speak to us.