Chronic Dry Eye: The 'Other' Symptom of Menopause
Chronic Dry Eye: The 'Other' Symptom of Menopause
NEW JERSERY, Jan. 2005 -- Imagine how it feels to wake up in the morning with dry, itchy eyes and blurred vision. Now imagine living with this condition every day where your eyes feel irritated, uncomfortable and your daily tasks are difficult to do.
For the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic dry eye disease, a condition where the eye does not produce the right quantity or quality of tears, this is an all too familiar reality. In fact, a recent study found that 3.2 million women or 1 in 12 over the age of 50 in the U.S. suffer from chronic dry eye.
The eye, like every other part of the body, is subject to the wear and tear of aging. Just as some people search anxiously for that first gray hair, it's important that everyone with the help of their eye doctor also keep their eyes peeled for the first signs of vision problems.
Although chronic dry eye occurs in both men and women, it affects women two-to-three times more often and is most common in post-menopausal women because of the hormonal changes associated with aging. Although it is more commonly thought of as "the libido hormone," testosterone plays a critical role in maintaining the tear-making lacrimal gland. As women grow older, their production of testosterone declines leaving the ocular surface susceptible to inflammation. Once the lacrimal gland is inflamed, it may reduce tear production.
Anyone who suspects they may have chronic dry eye should visit an eye doctor, who can make a diagnosis and determine the proper treatment regimen. While there are eye drops that provide temporary symptomatic relief, there are also prescription therapies available to address this condition. Eye doctors can determine the best therapy for each individual patient.
Source: National Women's Health Resource Center
