Natural remedies preventing dry eyes during menopause

A little known symptom of menopause is dry eye syndrome. More than 60% of women going through menopause will notice this unexpected symptom but only 16% will realize menopause is to blame.  Experiencing dry eyes can be an uncomfortable and sometime persistent problem that occurs when the quantity and/or quality of tears fails to keep the surface of the eye adequately lubricated.  Millions of adults are affected by dry eyes which can increase with age but women will have a higher prevalence when compared to men.

Symptoms of dry eyes

Dry eyes have certain symptoms associated with them.  These related symptoms include the following:

·      A scratchy or gritty sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye

·      Stinging or burning

·      Itchiness

·      Excessive tearing from the irritation

·      Increasingly tired eyes during the day

·      Irritation from smoke, wind or air movement

·      Stringy mucus excreted by the eyes

·      Sensitivity to light

·      Blurred vision

·      Problems wearing contact lenses

Why do menopausal women get dry eyes?

Like most symptoms of menopause, hormones are to blame for this phenomenon. As a woman goes through perimenopause and menopause, plummeting hormone levels are believed to affect the ocular tissues and the composition of tears the eyes produce leaving an uncomfortable feeling of dry eyes.

The sex hormones are involved in influencing just about every structure in the eye, including those responsible for making tears.  During menopause, both estrogen and testosterone drop, but the decline in testosterone (which is already lower in women than men) may have a bigger effect on tear production. Testosterone normally enhances tear production but when it has declined, dry eyes can be the result.   

When eyes stay dry too long the result is localized, often painful, inflammation and damage to the surface of the eye.  This immune response generates the release of various inflammatory substance making eyes red, itchy, and swollen.  This onset of dry eyes often coincides with other symptoms of menopause such as sore joints, dry mouth, and dry vaginal tissue.

One thing for women to keep in mind is that hormonal changes in perimenopause can trigger autoimmunity in susceptible women which could include Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition that causes dry eye.  This can be especially so if a woman already has another autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. 

An important effective remedy for dry eyes is to restore a natural balance between estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. 

Factors making dry eyes worse

To avoid making dry eyes even worse, here is a list of what not to do:

·      Stare at computers or read without blinking often enough to redistribute eye fluid

·      Wearing contact lenses that absorb eye fluids

·      Have LASIK surgery which cuts some eye nerves, reducing the impulse to blink

·      Taking medication such as allergy pills, diuretics, beta-blockers, birth control pills, or other drugs that can dry out eye tissues

·      Eating a diet deficient in omega-3 fatty acids or other anti-inflammatory foods

·      Living or working in dry or windy environments

5 natural tips for relieving or preventing dry menopausal eyes

1.  Eat nutrients for good eye health – Foods and their nutrients can be a helpful addition for keeping your eyesight keen as you age.  Vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in eye health.  Excellent foods to choose from brimming with these nutrients include spinach, kale, grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, Brussel sprouts, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, salmon, sardines, herring, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes.

2.  Review your medications with your doctor – Talk with your doctor about whether a medication could be contributing to dry eyes.  There may be alternative drugs that could cause fewer side effects to the eyes.

3.  Keep well-hydrated and humidify your environment – Remember to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, as dehydration can draw fluid from the eyes.  Women should consume between 8 to 12 cups of fluid a day and urine should be a light straw color.  Using a humidifier can also help reduce tear evaporation.  Make sure to clean it daily to avoid introducing more irritants into the air.

4.  Blink often – This may sound easy enough to do but when staring for prolonged amounts of time at a computer screen, you will blink less than usual.  Blinking is necessary to help distribute tears across the eyes.  Try to blink at least ever five seconds or so when staring at a computer or phone screen and every 10 mintues, look away from the screen to stare for at least 30 seconds at something in the distance.  It may also be helpful to lower the computer monitor a bit so your eyelids cover more of your eyes while looking at it which can save moisture.

5.  Get adequate sleep – Achieving good, quality sleep provides time for eyes to rest and refresh.  It also reduces stress that can contribute to hormonal imbalances.  While sleeping, our body detoxifies and repairs itself helping soothe inflammation in all of your systems. 

Consult healthcare provider

Any woman experiencing dry eye syndrome should also consult with their healthcare provider to identify the cause and to discuss other treatment options.  Dry eyes are common, but the treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.  Although having dry eyes may be a minor annoyance, it should be properly treated to avoid complications.