Out of Sight, Out of Mind? The Overlooked Menopause Symptom Affecting Half of Women

• Menopause affects around 13 million women in the UK - roughly a third of the female population

• In 2025/26, a record two million women aged 40+ in England were prescribed HRT, more than double the figure five years earlier, highlighting growing awareness and diagnosis of menopausal symptoms

• Yet despite this progress, dry eye remains a "silent" symptom: 42% of perimenopausal and menopausal women report dry eye symptoms, but awareness of the menopause link remains low

Dry eyes are a surprisingly common yet under-recognised sign of menopause. While hot flushes and mood changes dominate the conversation, new UK research shows almost half of menopausal women experience dry eye symptoms - yet fewer than one in four realise the two are linked.

The Hormonal Cause Behind Overlooked Tear Film Disruption

Menopause can affect the eyes because falling oestrogen and androgen levels may disrupt the oil and water layers of the tear film, making tears evaporate faster and leaving eyes feeling dry, gritty or tired. Yet unlike hot flushes or night sweats, dry eye is not listed among the core menopause symptoms on the NHS website, so many women don't automatically connect the dots. Add to that the fact that dry eye is also common with ageing, screen use and contact lens wear and the hormonal link is easily overlooked, leaving a widespread but under-recognised menopausal symptom in the shadows.

"As women get older, it's normal to notice tired, irritated eyes due to a natural decline in tear production", explains Leah Khan, optometrist and director at Simon Falk Eyecare in Leeds. "Hormonal shifts during and after menopause lead to less moisture in the eyes, with lower androgen levels further reducing tear output. Even hormone replacement therapy can sometimes worsen these symptoms".

TheraTears® Dry or Tired 50+ available at Boots and Holland & Barrett is a specially formulated eye drop solution designed for mature eyes. Accredited by MTick as a recognised menopause-friendly product, it helps relieve one of the most overlooked signs of the menopause.

TheraTears® Dry or Tired 50+ eye drops contain 0.3% hyaluronic acid with refreshing aloe vera. Offering 5-in-1 benefits, they restore, hydrate, reduce eye strain, provide lasting comfort and deliver fast relief. As menopause progresses, the decrease in hormone levels can influence tear production, leaving eyes feeling dry, gritty or light-sensitive. These drops are preservative-free, contact lens-friendly and formulated with gentle ingredients like aloe vera to refresh and soothe.

With dry eye affecting up to one in two menopausal women3 yet remaining poorly understood, TheraTears® is backing better awareness and support. While dry eyes may be a frequent companion to menopause, with TheraTears® 50+, relief is within reach.