Dry Eyes are not one of the symptoms that one would immediately associate with menopause. Yet dry eyes affects as many as 60% of menopausal women – without many of them even realizing that it is connected to the period of natural cessation of menstruation. Many eye disorders are symptomatic of deeper problems within the body. The hormone changes associated with menopause may lead to the decreased tear production that is at the root of dry eye syndrome. An imbalance of the substances that comprise tears may also result in dry eye syndrome. Tears are vital to the correct functioning of the eye because they protect and lubricate the eyes. If dry eye syndrome is left untreated, the eye will become susceptible to increased risk of infection and serious visual impairment.

Dry eye syndrome is more likely in menopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy. Those with arthritis or an auto immune disease are also at greater risk as are those who use eye drops with preservatives in them. Those who eat lost of animal fats and eat plenty of fried foods and dairy products also put themselves in the dry eye syndrome high risk category.

Menopausal women who are affected by dry eye syndrome should implement the following lifestyle changes;

• Eat less meat, fried foods and dairy products

• Eat more chunky white tuna

• Eat more walnuts

• Wear wrap around sunglasses when you are outside

• Avoid (or at least reduce) eye make-up

• Stop using products that can make your eyes dry such as Benadryl, Coricidin, atropine and beta blockers such as Timoptic, Betoptic, Betagan, and Ocupress.

• Blink regularly

• Rearrange your computer so that you are looking down on the monitor

• Avoid smog and fumes

• Quit smoking and try to avoid being around smokers.