Dry eye disproportionately affects women, and they are diagnosed at a younger age and have more extreme symptoms compared to men.
While dry eye (also known as dry eye syndrome) is an increasingly common ailment, especially among people aged 50 and up, women are observed to suffer from it more often than men. The obvious question, of course, is why.
Women’s hormone levels fluctuate throughout their lives, for a number of reasons. These hormonal changes have been shown to make dry eye more likely, as the fluctuations of estrogen, progesterone, and testosteron, along with other hormones, impact tear production and quality. In particular, high estrogen levels and low testosterone levels contribute to dry eye syndrome.
In particular, some things which impact hormones are likely to also impact dry eye symptoms:
Women who regularly wear eye makeup such as mascara or eyeliner, have a higher risk of developing dry eye. This is due to the ingredients found in these products which can irritate the eyes. Additionally, makeup removers often contain oils and chemicals which can thin the tear film covering the eyes, which causes tears to evaporate early.
While women remain at higher risk for developing dry eye, there are some things they can do to reduce that risk:
If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye, contact us at (360) 491-2121 to schedule an appointment. The sooner dry eye is addressed, the easier it is to effectively treat.
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