Although serious vision problems are not unique to women, women are 12% more likely to experience vision loss than men.

Not only the reproductive tracts and associated organs of men and women, but also the organs common to both sexes have structural differences. There are many biological factors that contribute to women’s vision problems. The differences between men and women’s eye structure can be seen in the tear glands, the surface of the eye, the lens and the retina (the nerve layer of the eye). Depending on sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and androgen, age, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and andropause affect vision.

Hormone Changes and Vision

Estrogen: Plays an important role in reproductive and sexual development starting at puberty.

Progesterone: Helps regulate menstrual cycles and prepares the body for pregnancy.

Androgens: These are a group of sex hormones that affect fertility, bone mass, sex drive and red blood cell production. Androgens are found only in small amounts in women, but in larger amounts in men.

Changes in vision during pregnancy

Hormones can cause serious changes in the eyes. Vision is particularly affected in women during pregnancy and menopause. When a woman becomes pregnant, pregnancy hormones produced by the placenta kick in. These hormones can cause changes in and around the eyes. These changes usually improve after the baby is born or after the mother stops breastfeeding. Changes in the eyes and around the eyes during pregnancy include the following:

Eyelids: Many pregnant women experience increased pigmentation (darkening of color) around the eyelids, called melasma or chloasma.

Cornea (the transparent layer of the eye): The thickness, curvature and sensitivity of the cornea can change during pregnancy. This can lead to refractive error, which can cause blurred vision. Women who wear contact lenses may develop a temporary intolerance to contact lenses during pregnancy.

Tear production: Hormones during pregnancy can affect the tear film and glands, leading to dry eyes.

Intraocular pressure: The pressure inside the eye decreases during pregnancy. Low IOP can lead to corneal edema, resulting in reduced vision.

Lens: During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the ability of women’s natural lenses to focus at close range may be weakened.

Women who had diabetes before becoming pregnant are at higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (diabetes affecting the eye). Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) have a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy.

Vision Changes in Menopause

• One of the most important eye-related changes after menopause is dry eyes. Dry eyes are very common during menopause and are caused by the loss of hormone support. Tear production is controlled by prolactin and sex hormones. After menopause, dryness in the eyes, which causes complaints such as burning, stinging and redness, improves with hormone support therapy.
• Some studies show that menopause may also increase the risk of glaucoma (eye pressure disease).
• The risk of cataract development in women after menopause is higher than in men of the same age. Estrogen use after menopause reduces the risk of cataracts. In the pre-menopausal period, estrogen helps the lens maintain its ionic structure and water balance.
• Women are twice as likely as men to develop autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Grave’s disease and multiple sclerosis cause various problems in the eyes such as uveitis, scleritis, cataracts, optic nerve damage and inflammation.

How Can Women Protect Their Eye Health?

1. Get a routine eye examination! Women between the ages of 18 and 60 should have an eye examination once a year.
2. Inform your ophthalmologist about your family history! Heredity and family history play a big role in vision. Tell your ophthalmologist about diseases that run in your family. In this way, your doctor can inform you about prevention methods and perform detailed examinations and tests for early diagnosis.
3. Do not smoke! Smokers are at risk for cataracts, age-related yellow spot disease and inflammatory conditions. If you smoke, try to quit.
4. Wear sunglasses outside! Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from harmful UV rays. Make sure you wear good quality sunglasses that fully block UVA and UVB rays.
5. Eat a balanced diet! Adding fruits, vegetables and antioxidants to your diet can help delay or prevent the onset of certain eye conditions. Get your protein from lean meat, fish, nuts and eggs. Drink plenty of water. Vitamin A (and beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc are also good for your eyes.
6. Add moderate exercise to your routine! To maintain your physical health, 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate activity each week is recommended. This time can be divided into small activities throughout the week.

June 2024