There are several changes in eye health that may be attributable to menopause.
Most are like graying of the hair -- they aren't welcomed, but they won't hurt. Others cause profound changes in vision that can permanently affect life.
Possible concerns for the eyes associated with menopause are: nuclear sclerosis, cataracts, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and floaters.
Nuclear sclerosis occurs when the normally clear lens in your eye becomes darker and yellowed. You need more light, especially when reading the newspaper or driving at night. When the lens becomes this dark, it is called a cataract.
When nuclear sclerosis begins disturbing vision, it's recommended that you increase your reading lamp to 100 watts and direct the light over one shoulder, rather than reading by a table lamp. Try to drive during the day or only go to familiar places at night. Use halogen headlights.
About 20 percent of women will ultimately have their cataract removed to continue to enjoy life. Cataract surgery is a commonly performed and relatively simple operation.
Much more common and annoying are dry eyes, occurring in about 50 percent of women. Your eyelids produce oils and mucus to lubricate the eye. If the eye does not produce sufficient oils and mucus, it becomes scratched as it moves about.
The debris that normally accumulates in the eyes during the day is swept away by the lids. If there is a lack of lubricating fluids, this debris sticks together and can matter up on the lashes.
As the eye becomes more irritated, the eyelids will produce more tears, which are not as effective as the oils that should have been produced. Treatment consists of avoiding dry areas, using a humidifier or applying drops for dry eyes that can be purchased over-the-counter.
A more serious concern is age-related macular degeneration. The macula is the portion of the eye that allows us to read. Age-related macular degeneration is a class of diseases with many forms. Some have only a minor effect on your reading; some have a marked effect. None will cause you to become blind.
About 30 percent of the population will develop some degree of macular degeneration. Some are genetic. In these types, if you are destined to develop it, symptoms will begin about the same time in life as your affected parent or sibling experienced it. If you pass this age without symptoms, you almost certainly will not get macular degeneration.
Smoking increases your chances of getting macular degeneration by 350 percent. Taking a multivitamin decreases your chances by 28 percent.
Glaucoma is the other thief that takes away vision. It is a class of diseases with many forms, most due to a pressure inside the eye that is too great for the eye to tolerate. If the pressure is not lowered, there is gradual damage to the optic nerve and vision is gradually lost.
For many, the vision lost is not recognized until the disease is quite advanced. For this reason, routine eye exams to rule out glaucoma are recommended after age 35. This is especially important if you have a family history of glaucoma, high pressure in your eye, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or smoking.
Treatment is relatively simple; eye drops taken regularly will prevent damage. Sometimes laser treatment can be used. Rarely is surgery required. It is important to remember, you do not go blind from glaucoma; you go blind by not treating it.
Floaters in the eye are common at any age but more common in the menopausal years and beyond. The interior of the eye is filled with a substance that looks like Jell-O, called vitreous, and particles within the vitreous float around.
If they come into view, you can see them, especially if you are looking at a bright background such as the sky. In your mature years, this vitreous can shrink.
When it does, folds begin to form in the vitreous that produce more floaters.
This sudden onset of floaters is often associated with disturbing flashes of light. If you experience them, call your eye doctor at that time.
Source: Greensboro News Record. Powered by Yellowbrix.
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