Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life after her period has permanently stopped, but it affects so much more than just the reproductive system! As any woman who’s been there can tell you firsthand, the hormonal changes that menopause brings on can have effects on just about everything in your body, from your skin to your energy levels, and your eyes are no exception.
Most people expect to see changes in their eyesight as they age, but there are some links between the changing hormone levels of menopause in women and altered eyesight. This is one of the lesser known symptoms of menopause, and it can come as a bit of a shock to women who aren’t expecting it, but knowing that it’s coming can prepare you to deal with this change along with many others that you’ll experience as you age!
How Does Menopause Affect My Eyes?
The hormones most associated with menopause and the menstrual cycle (estrogen, progesterone, and other sex hormones) do much more in the body than just manage reproduction. These chemical messengers do jobs all over the human body, and when their levels change, so does everything else. Scientists are still working to figure out exactly how hormones like estrogen and progesterone affect the eyes, but it’s clear that there is a link, and many women experience similar problems with their eyes once they enter menopause.
What Changes to My Eyes Can I Expect During Menopause?
Dry eye is the most common eye-related issue for menopausal women, but it’s also common for them to experience blurred vision, glaucoma, the formation of cataracts, and signs of macular degeneration like blind spots and poor depth perception.
How Can I Protect My Eyes During Menopause?
Most people are a little nervous about losing their eyesight as they age. While it is a natural part of getting older that, to a certain extent, can’t be stopped, there are things you can do to help protect your eyesight as much as possible and optimize the health of your eyes!
The most important thing you can do by far is to make regular visits to your eye doctor and follow their instructions and treatment recommendations. Part of why this is so important is disease monitoring. Cataracts, for example, are painless and slow to form, so you might not realize that you have them until they’re already impeding your vision. Glaucoma is another disease with a slow onset that you might not notice yourself until it’s already affecting your eyesight. Seeing your eye doctor at least once a year can ensure that you get an early warning that you’re developing these conditions, and your ophthalmologist can monitor their progress and recommend medications, lifestyle changes, and procedures to slow or reverse them as much as possible.
It’s also important to regularly visit your eye doctor to keep the prescription of your glasses or contact lenses up to date. Straining your eyes is something that you definitely don’t want to do as you age– not only can it lead to headaches and eye fatigue, but it can also cause your vision to continue to deteriorate. Making sure your glasses are at the right prescription so that you can see clearly can protect your eyes in the long run! You should also avoid other activities that strain your eyes, like reading or doing activities like knitting or painting in poor light, swimming in chlorinated water without goggles, and staring at screens for too long without proper breaks to rest your eyes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also help your eye health, so make sure you get your vitamins and minerals either through your diet or a multivitamin, get plenty of exercise for good blood circulation, and work with your doctor to quit smoking or nicotine use if you can.
Another thing you can do to help your eyes, and to work against the other unpleasant symptoms of menopause, is to consider hormone replacement therapy! Adding some of your lost hormones back into your body’s system can help to reduce symptoms like dry eye, lowered libido, low bone density, and much more. Renewed Vitality can help provide you with more information about this treatment option, so contact us today!
