Specsavers Opticas (Columnist)
When it comes to eyes, are women really from Venus?
MOTHER’S Day in Spain is the first Sunday in May, so to celebrate the great mums, grandmas, sisters and aunties we wanted to answer some questions about how women’s eyes are affected by hormones and what eye health conditions can particularly affect them.
Are women’s eye affected by hormones?
Unfortunately women’s eyes can suffer when they are menstruating, pregnant or breastfeeding, as they need to retain more liquids and this can affect the eyes as well as producing other side effects such as bloating and swollen ankles.
Are there any other things that can affect a woman’s eyes?
The contraceptive pill can often cause changes in your vision, as can antidepressants, anti- anxiety medications and antihistamines.
Why do my eyes get so dry?
The term ‘dry eye’ is used when we don’t produce enough tears or our tears evaporate too quickly. People with dry eyes often have plenty of water in their tears but not enough oil.
Dry eye is three times more common in women than men, as it is affected by hormonal changes during a menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding or the menopause. As we age this can get worse, with 60% of women over 50 years old suffering from this uncomfortable condition. To reduce symptoms drink plenty of water, use eye drops and sprays to add extra lubrication, reduce your central heating and avoid direct heat from heaters.
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is the most common eye disease in the Western hemisphere and kids often get this at school and pass this on to their mums. It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva which makes the sclera appear reddened due to an increase in blood supply. The eye feels itchy and watery. Sometimes there is a sticky discharge which feels uncomfortable and makes vision blurry. Although conjunctivitis is often referred to as ‘pink eye’, this technically only refers to one type of the eye disease, bacterial conjunctivitis. Contact lense users should remove them and wear glasses until symptoms recover.
• There are Specsavers Opticas stores in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. If your eyes are sore or red, or you are experiencing discomfort, go to your nearest store for a free eye test www.specsavers.es
