Dry eye in older women

Women over 50 are more susceptible to mild or severe dry eye. Women in this older group are showed to suffer dry eye at a percentage of 7.8, versus a 4.7% among men. Dry eye in women involves various causes. Common problems such as inflammation can cause tear reduction in the eye, which brings dry eye. Particularly, women after menopause may have unstable tear film caused by abnormal chemical signals. Hormone androgen decease can also be a possible cause of dry eye in older women. But no evidence has showed that estrogen hormone replacement therapy is effective in alleviating dry eye in women.

There are several remedies for dry eye in older women. Refractive surgeries such as LASIK and PRK may permanently affect nerve function of the cornea. What’s worse, they may cause complications that worsen dry eye. Even if you decide to take a refractive procedure for dry eye treatment, prior examinations are necessary in order to determine your eligibility.

Proper treatments of underlying dry eye causes are also important. Age-related rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid autoimmune disease may cause dry eye in old people. Inflammation caused by certain allergens can be a possible reason for dry eye symptoms, which can be treated by either over-the-counter or prescription eye drops. Certain medications you are taking can bring side effects including dry eye. Diuretics and antidepressants are two of those medications. In some cases, there are good alternatives that will never cause dry eye. After consulting your doctor, you can make a shift.