Your eyes can burn, itch and throb like never before when you approach menopause, due to the hormonal changes during this period. — dpa
Hormone changes present challenges for many women before and during the menopause.
Beyond hot flashes or sleeping issues, dry eyes can often be a problem.
The dryness is caused by the lack of certain hormones, i.e. androgens, which leads the meibomian glands located at the edge of our eyelids to produce less oil, the ophthalmologist will tell you.
If you have too little of this secretion, the tear film on the eyes evaporates more quickly, leading to burning, light-sensitive eyes.
That can also mean a loss of visual acuity.
At worst, sufferers may feel as though they have fine grains of sand in the eye all the time.
Firstly, do consult an ophthalmologist to check whether your eyes might be dry for other reasons, beyond hormonal changes due to the menopause.
If it is due to menopause, try giving your eyes a gentle massage and cleaning the edges of your eyelids for some relief.
You can place warm compresses on your eyes to liquefy the secretions in the meibomian glands.
Then gently sweep your eyelids with a clean cotton swab, moving toward the edge of your eyelid, to clean them.
You can also get eye drops or gels to help dry eyes.
Sufferers should make sure they are drinking enough fluids as well.
A further tip is to try to make a habit of blinking more frequently when working at a computer screen.
This can help distribute the tear film evenly, and help hydrate, lubricate and protect the surface of your eye, according to the experts.
Fresh air is also good for dry eyes.
Many menopausal women can also face drier skin and other changes, such as wrinkles and age spots.
That is largely due to the natural decline in their levels of oestrogen, the primary female sex hormone.
Creams containing oestrogen can help counter any deficiency, pharmacists say.
They’re available only by prescription though, and are generally used to treat vaginal dryness.
Over-the-counter cosmetic products aren’t permitted to contain oestrogen.
Instead, the cosmetics industry uses phytoestrogens – plant-derived compounds similar to the hormone, which are found in soy and certain other foods.
Experts say the efficacy of these products is difficult to prove since the active ingredient content in the plant extracts fluctuates.
If you want to do something nice for your skin during menopause, pharmacists recommend skincare products with water- binding substances, such as hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin A supplements can improve your skin’s elasticity.
A balanced diet, plenty of exercise, as little stress as possible, and regular protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun also contribute to smoother, firmer skin. – dpa
