Dry, Tired Eyes In Perimenopause And Menopause
Dry, tired eyes are not something that you might associate with menopausal symptoms. Hormonal imbalance can however reduce moisture in the eye. Your eyes can become itchy, red, tired and more prone to infection.
You can buy over the counter eye drops to ease the discomfort but a trip to your doctor or optician is probably better. Your eyesight is important after all and severe drying of the eyes and persistent infections can cause damage.
Poor quality sleep, fatigue and too much time spent staring at a screen can make your eyes dry too. When you concentrate on a screen, your laptop for example, you blink a lot less than usual. Blinking helps to keep the eye moist so lack of blinking will dry out your eyes.
Tips and Tricks
See your doctor/optician
See your doctor / optician if your eyes are dry, itchy, red or swollen. Remember that severe drying of the eye can cause damage. It’s also important to rule out/treat any infection, so see a health professional.
Hydration And A healthy diet
These are important for eye health. Plenty of water and brightly coloured fruit and veg are good for the eyes as well as your overall health.
Wear Sunglasses
Wear sunglasses when you go outside. They not only protect your eyes from the sun but also from the wind. Wrap-around sunglasses are particularly good for this. Don’t wait for the height of summer to wear them. Even on a sunny but cold day in winter wear your sunglasses and protect your eyes.
Limit screen time
Limit screen time where possible. I know that’s difficult, especially if you work at a computer. If you can’t limit your screen time at work then at least take regular ‘eye’ breaks from the screen to allow your eyes to rest. Make a conscious effort to blink regularly too. This might sound daft but it will help to keep your eyes moist.
Smoke And Pollen
Triggers such as smoke or pollen should be avoided. Don’t sit close to a heat source such as a radiator. Air conditioning can dry your eyes too. If you have air con at work try to avoid sitting near the outlet. I’m sure the boss would rather you changed seat than had to take time off work.
Contact lenses
Can make your dry eyes worse. If your eyes are dry, contacts can be extremely uncomfortable to wear. If at all possible swap the contacts for glasses. There are some attractive and stylish one available. Why not try on a few pairs? You could give yourself a whole new look.
