Dry eye in older women

Dry eye is one of the most common ocular symptoms many people have experienced. In general, a wide range of conditions can lead to this eye problem. For instance, excessive eye strain or stress, too much computer use,     and excessive tear vaporization are common causes. In addition, people in any age or health condition are likely to have dry eye more or less. In this article, we introduce a special group that is more frequently reported with dry eye. Women over 50 are more susceptible to mild or severe dry eye. More exactly, ladies in this older group are said to suffer dry eye at a percentage of 7.8, versus a 4.7% among men.

Possible causes of senior women’s dry eye

Dry eye in women involves various causes. Common problems such as inflammation can cause tear reduction in the eye, which brings dry eye. As widely known, moist environment in the eye is maintained mainly by normal tear production. In particular, 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 men. But no evidence has showed that estrogen hormone replacement therapy is effective in alleviating dry eye in women.

Surgeries for dry eye treatment are not recommended

There are several remedies for dry eye in elderly women. The simplest solution is to use eye drops or ointments regularly. 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.

Removing the exact cause is of more importance

Removing the underlying causes of dry eye is even more important than treating the superficial signs alone. 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, 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.