I have read your article about chronic dry eye. I am curious as to whether the pupils can vary due to chronic dry eye. The pupil in my right eye is larger than the one in the left eye when my eyes are bothering me the most.

Can you help with this question? 

Answer:

I’m glad you enjoyed the article Chronic Dry Eye: The 'Other' Symptom of Menopause. As the article mentions, chronic dry eye is an uncomfortable disorder that can affect both men and women. However, it affects perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women at a much greater rate because of the hormonal changes they experience during “the change.”

Chronic dry eye is especially common as perimenopausal women begin to produce less of the hormone testosterone. Not commonly known, this male-associated hormone also encourages the production of tears in the lacrimal gland (which is located in the eye). As women grow older, their production of testosterone lessens often resulting in dry, inflamed eyes.

I am not an eye doctor; however I can tell you that the size of the pupil (the black opening or the eye’s interior) is controlled by the iris (the colored portion and muscle that surrounds the pupil) and likely not by dry eyes. If you’re experiencing chronic dry eye or if you suspect you might have another eye disorder, you should make an appointment your eye doctor. Only an eye doctor can make a proper diagnosis and determine the proper treatment for your eyes.