Viewpoint: A hidden symptom

It is common for women going through the menopause to experience dry eye symptoms. Changes in hormone levels can affect all three layers of the tear film, reducing the quantity and quality of your tears and increasing the risk of evaporation.

A drop in oestrogen levels can make skin thinner and less elastic, while mucus membranes dry out. The lacrimal glands produce less fluid. A decrease in androgen hormone affects the meibomian gland in the eyelids, which produce essential oils for the tears.

Research has found that 86% of women were unaware of the connection between the menopause and eye health. It is estimated that a third of the entire UK female population are currently perimenopausal or menopausal. The number of women aged 45 and older, which is when the menopause usually happens, is also on an upwards trend.