The hormone level changes that occur during menopause — defined as no menstrual cycles for one year — can cause Dry Eye and are associated with relative drops in androgen levels produced in the ovaries. Production of testosterone is higher prior to perimenopause and menopause. Women who take only estrogen to treat menopause can have a worsening of Dry Eye symptoms.
Reference
The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: report of the Subcommittee on Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology of the meibomian gland
Knop E, Knop N, Millar T, Obata H, Sullivan DA.
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
2011 Mar 30;52(4):1938-78. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6997c. Print 2011 Mar. PMID:21450915
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