Do you have dry eyes?

What exactly are dry eyes?

Dry eyes happen when your eyes aren’t seeing as clearly as they used to because they are irritated, dry, red, and itchy. If you are over 45 years of age and have dry eye symptoms, there could be something going on in your body that needs attention.

While most people think of hot flashes, moodiness and night sweats when they think of menopause, research has shown that dry eye syndrome is a somewhat little-known symptom of menopause. This symptom affects about 60% of perimenopausal and menopausal women, but only a small percentage of them realize, or even suspect, that menopause might be to blame.

Although dry eye syndrome is not a serious health problem, the unpleasant symptoms can negatively affect your quality of life, especially if your vision is reduced, or your eyes become extra sensitive to light and environmental conditions.

Dry eyes and hormonal changes.

Hormones are important to your eye health, and studies have revealed that there are estrogen and testosterone receptors on the cornea, and the meibomian gland – the gland which keeps your eyes moist. This means that there is a connection between your tears and your sex hormones.

As you grow older and go into menopause, these hormones – estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, begin to decrease. And of course, their efficiency in keeping your eyes lubricated also decreases.

Healthy eyes are constantly covered with a fluid known as a tear film, which should remain stable between each blink, preventing the eyes from becoming dry.

Hormonal changes can result in your eyes being itchy, dry, tired, and over-sensitive to irritation from smoke, wind, and light. You could even develop a problem wearing contact lenses.

What to do if you get dry eye syndrome.

You could try over-the-counter eye drops to relieve the symptoms, or as some data has suggested, your doctor might recommend HRT to improve the condition.

With the onset of menopause, many women have an increased tendency to suffer from dry eyes. It is believed to be because with the change in hormones, the composition of your protective tears also alters.

If the symptoms are severe, and you are at the menopausal age, then the best remedy would indeed be to restore a natural balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

The best way to go.

Although we still have much to learn about how hormones play a role in keeping eyes lubricated, we do know that dry eyes can result from a deficiency of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Conventional, synthetically manufactured hormones come with potential, serious side effects, as they are not identical to the hormones produced in the body.

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, or BHRT, are made from plant extracts such as yam and soy, and research has shown that they are an exact molecular replica of the hormones in the body.

Studies have indicated BHRT to be much safer than conventional HRT treatment, with minimal side effects which seldom occur if the correct hormone dosage is achieved.

Live well because you can!

If you suffer from the irritating dry eye syndrome, we can help solve the problem.

Visit us at www.renewmetoday.com to the take the hormone health test, and find the location of your nearest Renew office.