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Dry eye condition disproportionately affects women in menopause, eye specialists report

Declining androgen levels and estrogen shifts frequently trigger chronic tear evaporation, though behavioral factors and common medications also contribute.

Updated Sep 4, 2026 · 11:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • About half of women going through the menopausal transition experience dry eye symptoms, with women over 50 affected at twice the rate of men in the same age bracket.
  • The condition is primarily driven by declining sex hormones that alter the function of eyelid oil glands, causing tears to evaporate too rapidly.
  • Left untreated, severe dry eye can damage corneal surface cells, raising the risk of blurred vision, eye infections, and scarring.
  • Although the chronic condition has no cure, management includes at-home compresses, eye drops, prescription drugs, in-office procedures, and screen breaks.

Key facts

  • Large-scale research indicates that women over 50 develop dry eyes at double the rate of men over 50, with around 50% of women in the menopausal transition reporting symptoms.[NPR]
  • Declining androgen levels during aging and menopause degrade the output and quality of oil from meibomian glands in the eyelids, accelerating tear evaporation and ocular surface inflammation.[NPR]
  • External and medical factors including prolonged screen exposure, contact lens use, allergies, skin disorders, and drugs like antidepressants or blood pressure medications also contribute to dry eye.[NPR]
  • Advanced cases of dry eye can cause the corneal surface cells to degrade, creating risks of visual impairment, scarring, and infections.[NPR]

What remains uncertain

  • The precise mechanisms by which estrogen fluctuations affect the lacrimal glands and tear production remain incompletely understood.[NPR]
  • Scientific studies on the effectiveness of omega-3 supplements for relieving dry eye symptoms have produced mixed results, despite positive anecdotal clinical reports.[NPR]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.