{"id":374108,"date":"2026-09-03T14:31:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miranza.es\/?p=374108"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:31:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T13:31:43","slug":"menopause-also-affects-vision-how-to-protect-eye-health-during-this-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miranza.es\/en\/eye-wellness-blog\/menopause-also-affects-vision-how-to-protect-eye-health-during-this-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Menopause also affects vision: how to protect eye health during this stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect eye health and increase the prevalence of dry eye, as well as contribute to visual fatigue, fluctuations in prescription, and potentially influence the risk of glaucoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Menopause is a stage marked by significant hormonal changes that can affect different organs and tissues throughout the body, including the eyes. The progressive decline in estrogen and androgen levels can alter the ocular surface, tear production, and other eye structures, increasing the likelihood of experiencing visual discomfort or developing certain eye conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the\u00a0most\u00a0common\u00a0problems\u00a0during\u00a0this\u00a0stage\u00a0is\u00a0dry eye<\/strong><\/u> disease<\/strong><\/a>, a condition\u00a0that\u00a0affects\u00a0approximately\u00a0one in fiveadults in Spain<\/strong>, particularly\u00a0women, according to the\u00a0first\u00a0prevalence\u00a0study\u00a0on dry eye\u00a0disease in Spain (PrevEOS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany\u00a0patients\u00a0report\u00a0burning, a gritty\u00a0sensation, redness, or\u00a0intermittent\u00a0blurred\u00a0vision. These\u00a0symptoms are often\u00a0normalized, but\u00a0they\u00a0should be properly\u00a0addressed,\u201d explains Dr. Laura Porr\u00faa, a specialist in dry eyetreatment at Miranza Instituto G\u00f3mez-Ulla<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why can menopause affect eye health?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hormonal changes play an important role in the functioning of the ocular surface. Both estrogen and androgens are involved in various processes related to the production and stability of the tear film and in the regulation of ocular inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estrogen<\/strong> plays a role in regulating the epithelial cells of the ocular surface and in the function of the lacrimal glands, influencing both the quantity and quality of tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Androgens<\/strong>, meanwhile, are essential for the proper functioning of the meibomian glands, which produce the lipid component of tears. This layer helps prevent excessive tear evaporation and contributes to maintaining a stable ocular surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When hormone levels change, this can contribute to the development of dry <\/strong>eye<\/strong>, ocular <\/strong>inflammation<\/strong>, and various<\/strong>forms<\/strong> of visual <\/strong>discomfort<\/strong>, particularly during stages such as menopause or in the presence of certain endocrine disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, estrogen\u00a0appears to have a certain\u00a0protective\u00a0effect\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0risk of glaucoma, which\u00a0may\u00a0increase in cases of early\u00a0menopause. During\u00a0menopause, sensitivity to light, visual fatigue, and fluctuations in prescription mayalso increase<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The importance of eye exams during menopause<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having regular eyeexaminations during menopause, even whent here are no symptoms, makes it possible to monitor eyehealth<\/strong> and detect\u00a0potential\u00a0changes at an\u00a0early\u00a0stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA comprehensive eye examination allows us to detect changes at an early stage and provide personalized treatments that can significantly improve patients\u2019 quality of life\u201d, says the team at Miranza<\/strong> Instituto G\u00f3mez-Ulla<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to regular eye exams, certain habits can help protect eye health during this stage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n