Menopause Cataracts and Eyes

The Effects of the Menopause on the Eyes

Blindness is a terrible fate. In some cases, it is as problem from birth, but when it comes to analysing the onset of blindness and severe impairment, much of it is preventable. For reasons not obvious to the layman, these are conditions that are far more likely to be suffered by women than men. Age is also a factor and studies of the menopause reveal that this is something that can certainly impact on vision.

Four diseases are commonly associated with the menopause.

Cataracts tend to develop among people of 40 or more. The lens become cloudy and over time, it can lead to blindness. Women after the menopause are at high risk of cataracts with around 60% of those in that age group that get cataracts being women. In the early stages, cataracts are small and cause limited problems but from the age of around 60 onwards, sufferers are likely to find that vision becomes blurred, it becomes more difficult to see at night while eyes become more sensitive to bright light and glare.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and over time, pressure builds up in the eye. Once again, figures suggest that around 60% of suffers are women in the postmenopausal ages. Again, vision becomes blurred and the condition can be painful causing physical sickness. Sufferers may see rings around bright lights. After cataracts, it is the second biggest reason for blindness.

Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a chronic disease, causing vision problems in the middle of a person’s field of vision which is the means by which daily tasks and recognition take place. The percentage of sufferers who are women rises even further beyond 65% with the incidence occurring more frequently beyond 60 years of age.

Dry Eyes occurs whenever eyes do not produce enough tears or they evaporate too quickly. Again 60% of the time, this disease occurs in women. A regular application of eyedrops is something that can counter this incidentally. Dry Eyes can cause inflammation and irritation.

In general, the problem is hormonal with a drop in estrogen levels the reason for three of the four, but not Dry Eyes which results from a drop in Androgen which regulates the level of salty solution being produced.

The answer starts with a regular visit to an optician and obviously replacing the lost hormones can stop the development of such problems though that is not always as simple as it sounds depending upon other health issues such as diabetes. HRT, hormone replacement, should be only done after consultation because of possible side effects. There are certainly no side effects from buying naturally formulated eyedrops which are readily available online, on websites such as eBay, cheap and very quick and easy to apply.

Women who are aware of the slight vision risks associated with the menopause and the fact that women seem more susceptible to eye disease then men can start to help themselves by going shopping.