Dry eyes and menopause: what’s the link? | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

Noticed that your eyes are feeling drier, grittier or even more watery lately? It could be dry eye syndrome.
What you may not know is dry eyes can be a hidden symptom of menopause: one in four of the nearly 6,000 women surveyed ahead of the release of Dr Louise’s book, the Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause, said they experienced dry eyes during the menopause.
Joining Dr Louise on this week’s podcast is Maria McGoldrick, a clinical performance consultant for Specsavers who is based in Scotland. Maria, who is an optometrist with 13 years’ experience, gives us the lowdown on the typical symptoms of dry eyes and treatments that can help.
Maria’s top three tips to optimise your eye health:
1. Have a regular eye test: ideally once every two years
2. If you suspect you may have dry eyes, make an appointment with an optometrist so this can be assessed and a treatment plan devised.
3. If you are perimenopausal or menopausal and have an eye appointment coming up, mention this to your optometrist. This will help them support you and make the right treatment plan for you.

[@the_glam_roomnz]

Thank you so so much! I have spent years going back and forth to doctors for many symptoms and not least amongest them Dry eye- so severe I thought I was going blind at one point! After watching many of your videos and learning so much I am now on HRT including Testosterone which has improved things SOOO much with the dry eye - thank you thank you thank you xx

[@proudmumof2doctors171]

I was told many years ago that I had dry eyes. But I didn’t realise how much of a problem it was. That was until one morning, I couldn’t open my eyes. And both my eyes were crusted over and I could hardly open my eyelids. I saw an eye specialist and had 3 months of treatment with antibiotic drops. And I now have to take “dry eye” drops for the rest of my life. But I never knew that dry eyes was linked to the menopause! So, thank you for this podcast.

[@helen24443]

I found when I started testosterone the fist thing I noticed was how clear my vision was. Have dry eye lots of water.

[@Hahnefrau01]

May I ask, in which way you are taking testosteron?

[@funtimefranky]

@@Hahnefrau01Not sure about the other poster but I take Testosterone in gel form. I apply 1 pump to my skin every 2 days. My doctor actually suggested applying it every other day but I found that was too strong.

[@turtlepunt3620]

How irritating all the adverts are Louise Newson please think of the women your supposed to be helping not your profit!

[@funtimefranky]

Louise gives us lots of valuable and free info so the odd ad here and there isn’t the worse thing in the world.