Eye Health & Menopause Care
Your eyes can change around the same time as perimenopause and menopause. Here’s what every woman over 40 needs to know.
Taking care of your eyes through perimenopause and menopause
Self-care should be front and center on the journey to aging well.
You take care of your skin. You track your steps and sleep. You prioritize habits that help you look and feel your best. But there’s one important self-care step that’s often overlooked: the annual eye exam.
Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause are associated with a wide variety of symptoms, such as dryness or discomfort of the eyes; age-related changes in your vision may occur at the same time. Dryness, blurry vision and other subtle changes can show up in everyday moments, from reading a menu to scrolling on your phone.
This impacts not just how you see, but how you feel about yourself, making an annual eye exam the ultimate self-care move for women over 40, supporting confidence, independence and overall wellness.
Want to age well? Don’t skip your annual eye exam
A message from Naomi Watts
“We’re talking more openly about menopause, but eye health is still too often left out.
I want women to know they don’t have to quietly work around changes like dry eyes or blurry vision. An eye exam is a simple step that can help them understand their eye health options and feel more in control.”
Take the menopause & eye health check-in
Does menopause affect your eyes?
Your eyes can change as you move through your 40s and 50s, and it’s completely normal.i
Changing hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause are associated with dry eye symptoms, including eye irritation and discomfortii. At the same time, many adults start to experience presbyopia, an age-related vision change that makes it more difficult to focus on things up close.iii
While menopause does not cause presbyopia, these changes often happen during the same stage of life, creating a combination of vision symptoms that can be frustrating.iv,v
Why does an eye exam belong in your healthy aging routine?
Just like staying active, eating well, and annual physicals, a comprehensive eye exam is a must-have in your healthy aging toolkit. You wouldn’t skip these wellness priorities.
Beyond helping you see clearly, an eye exam can provide valuable insight into your overall health and may help detect signs of more than 270 health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.viii
Vision solutions that fit your lifestyle
An eye exam also opens the door to conversations about eye care solutions that can help you continue doing the things you love.
More solutions than ever are available to support patients over 40, including multifocal contact lenses that can help you see clearly at multiple distances while fitting seamlessly into your lifestyle.
Expert Voices
“Protecting your vision is about more than improved sight alone — it's about safeguarding your confidence and serving as a powerful tool in healthy aging. When individuals feel secure in their ability to navigate the world, stay active and connect with others, their overall well-being improves.”
- Dr. Danielle Richardson, optometrist
Our Partners
American Optometric Association
Prioritize your vision today
Eye health is an important part of healthy aging. Whether you're noticing changes in your vision or simply due for your annual exam, now is a great time to take the next steps.
Take these smart next steps:
i. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age
ii. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5496280/
iii. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia
iv. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause
v. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia
vi. Vallibhakara, S. A.-O., Chattrakulchai, K., Vallibhakara, O., Anantaburana, M., & Nijvipakul, S. (2025). Dry eye symptoms in midlife women: A cross-sectional analysis of prevalence, risk factors, and quality-of-life outcomes. Maturitas, 201(0378-5122), 108694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2025.108694
vii. American Optometric Association. “Adult Vision: 41 to 60 Years of Age.” Available at: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adultvision-41-to-60-years-of-age. Accessed November 2024
viii. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/full-picture-of-eye-health
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