Menopause & Dry Eyes - Caring for Your Eyes Starts with Your Eyelids
Every year on October 18, we mark World Menopause Day - a time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support women through the many changes this stage of life brings.
While menopause is often discussed in terms of hot flushes, sleep, or mood changes, one aspect that deserves just as much attention is eye health. Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can have a real impact on your tears, eyelids, and overall eye comfort, yet it’s rarely talked about.
At Elin Eyes, we believe caring for your eyes starts with caring for your eyelids, because healthy lids mean healthy tears.
How Hormones Affect Your Eyes
As women approach menopause, levels of key hormones — especially oestrogen and testosterone — begin to fluctuate and eventually decline. These hormones play a vital role in the function of the meibomian glands, the tiny oil glands along your eyelid margins.
When these glands don’t work as well, your tears evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes feeling:
Dry, watery, or gritty
Irritated or stinging
Tired after reading or screen time
It’s estimated that women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience dry eye disease, and hormonal changes during menopause are one of the main reasons why.
Why Eyelid Hygiene Matters During Menopause
Your eyelids don’t just protect your eyes — they actively support them. Each time you blink, a layer of natural oils spreads across the eye’s surface, helping to keep your vision clear and comfortable.
If your eyelid margins are clogged or inflamed, these glands can’t release the oil properly, which worsens dry eye symptoms. That’s why daily eyelid hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support your eyes.
A gentle cleanser keeps your lash line clean, supports natural oil flow, and helps stabilise your tear film. Over time, it can make a noticeable difference in how your eyes feel every day.
Supporting Eye Comfort Naturally
At Elin Eyes, we’re proud to create a New Zealand-made, naturally derived, and clinically mindful range of eyelid cleansers designed to support comfort at every age.
Our formulations are:
✔ Optometry Developed — safe and effective for sensitive eyes
✔ Naturally derived — made with gentle plant-based ingredients and soothing botanicals
✔ Free from harsh preservatives and fragrances
✔ Suitable for daily use — morning and night, to maintain clean, healthy eyelids
It’s a small step that can make a big difference, particularly as hormonal changes increase your eyes’ sensitivity and dryness.
Tips for Menopausal Eye Comfort
Use a warm compress to gently melt and clear natural oils from your glands
Cleanse daily with a gentle lid cleanser like Elin Eyes
Stay hydrated and include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet
Take regular screen breaks to support natural blinking
If symptoms persist, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist with an interest in Dry Eye to help get a clear diagnosis and management plan
This World Menopause Day…
Take a moment to care for your eyes. Menopause is a natural transition, but it doesn’t have to mean living with discomfort. Supporting your eyelids is one of the most powerful (and gentle) ways to keep your eyes feeling clear, calm, and comfortable — for life.