Are Dry Eyes A Women’s Health Problem?
The surprising reason women are more affected - and what your hormones have to do with it.
I never imagined I’d become emotionally attached to a bottle of eye drops, but here we are. Somewhere between back-to-back screen time and my eyes suddenly behaving like they’d been personally offended by air conditioning, wind and basic existence, dry eye quietly became part of my daily life. I started leaving the house with eye drops stashed in every handbag, my eyes constantly watering in the cold, burning after a few hours on my laptop and somehow feeling both painfully dry and excessively watery at the exact same time… which feels like a particularly cruel contradiction, if you ask me.
Naturally, I blamed screen time because what modern health complaint doesn’t get blamed on it? But after speaking to an optometrist, I discovered something far more surprising: women are almost twice as likely as men to suffer from dry eye disease, with the risk increasing significantly during hormonal shifts like pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. Studies even suggest that around one in three menopausal women experience symptoms ranging from grittiness and redness to blurred vision and light sensitivity, yet few of us would ever think to connect irritated eyes with hormones or life stage - I for one, did not.
That’s partly because dry eye has long been dismissed as a minor annoyance rather than a legitimate health issue, and, honestly, I did exactly the same thing. For months, I brushed off my own irritation as one of those inevitable side effects of modern life. But the more I looked into it, the clearer it became that this is a conversation we’re simply not having enough. As discussions around women’s health become far more open, attention is finally being paid to the impact fluctuating oestrogen and androgen levels can have on eye health.
So, I spoke to optometrist and the founder of Peep Club, Nicola Alexander-Cross, to unpack why dry eye is becoming a growing women’s health issue hiding in plain sight, and the expert-backed changes that can actually help.
Why Women Are More Prone to Dry Eye Than Men
If dry eye had a target audience, it would very much be women. Something I only really clocked after falling down a slightly eye-drop-fuelled rabbit hole of my own.
According to Nicola, hormones are one of the biggest reasons for this. In particular, the drop in oestrogen and androgen levels during perimenopause and menopause can affect both tear production and the function of the meibomian glands, the tiny oil-producing glands that prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.
In simple terms, she explains, that shift makes the tear film less stable. “Tears evaporate faster and inflammation increases,” she says, which is where you start getting that frustrating mix of symptoms: dryness, burning, irritation, watery eyes, blurred vision and light sensitivity, often all at once.
“For many women, dry eye becomes one of the most common and noticeable eye-related symptoms of menopause,” Nicola adds.
But hormones aren’t the whole story. In fact, part of what surprised me most was how much everyday life plays into it, too. “We’re also now learning much more about the huge impact cosmetics can have on wearing down the tear film and bringing on dry eyes in women more than men,” she says.
And once you hear that, it’s hard not to see it everywhere. Makeup, lash serums, contact lenses, air conditioning, endless screen time, all of it quietly staging a protest against our eyes without most of us really noticing.
The Signs Your Dry Eye Is More Than Occasional Irritation
Let’s not downplay dry eye - it is a chronic condition, and like most chronic issues, the sooner it’s identified and managed, the easier it is to keep under control long term.
As Nicola explains, it rarely arrives in an obvious way. “More often, it creeps in gradually and gets mistaken for tiredness, allergies, or just the realities of too much screen time.”
Early signs are often subtle but persistent: eyes watering in wind or bright sunlight, a low-level redness that keeps returning, or that gritty, itchy or burning sensation that never fully settles. These are often the first clues that the tear film is becoming unstable.
For many people, it only really registers as something more serious when it starts interfering with daily life - blurred vision that won’t clear properly, eyes watering to the point you’re constantly reaching for tissues outdoors, or no longer being able to comfortably wear mascara or contact lenses. That’s usually the point where people seek help, even though the condition has often been developing long before that.
The key shift is recognising these early signs rather than normalising them, because that’s what makes it manageable, rather than feeling like you're losing your grip on the condition.
A breakdown of the small habits that make a big difference
The good news? If any of this sounds vaguely familiar - small, consistent tweaks to your daily routine can make a real difference. And before you mentally spiral into yet another “new wellness routine” (because there are already too many), these are simple changes you’ll barely notice, but your eyes absolutely will. For everyday support, Nicola recommends starting here:
1. Ditch harsh eye products
Eye makeup removers and lash serums are often the biggest culprits. Throw away the micellar water and switch to something preservative, alcohol and fragrance-free. Balm-style removers with minimal ingredients are gentler on the tear film and can help reduce irritation over time.
2. Be picky with eye makeup
Powder eyeshadows and heavily fragranced mascaras can worsen flaking and irritation. Instead, opt for gel or pencil formulas and consider tubing mascaras, which are less likely to crumble into the eye area. Try to avoid setting powders close to the lash line.
3. Clean your eyelids daily
One of the most underrated steps - Hypochlorous acid sprays gently cleanse the lid area, reducing bacteria and inflammation without stinging. The key is choosing a version designed specifically for the eyes, used consistently as part of your routine. A personal flag from me - this product quite literally changed my daily struggles with my dry eyes. I use it consistently throughout the day, even before my eyes begin to irritate.
4. Don’t underestimate hydration
It sounds simple, but staying properly hydrated plays a real role in tear production and overall eye comfort, and is often overlooked in dry eye management.
5. Consider omega support
A good quality omega supplement (including omega 3, 6, 7 and 9) may help reduce inflammation and support a healthier, more stable tear film over time, contributing to overall eye resilience.
6. Be mindful of your environment
Air conditioning, central heating and windy conditions can all accelerate tear evaporation. If they’re unavoidable, preservative-free drops or sprays can help top up moisture and protect the eye surface throughout the day.
For anything more severe, Nicola cautions that treatment should always be guided by an optometrist, with in-practice options like IPL, available through specialist dry eye clinics across the UK.
The Eye-Care Essentials Nicola Swears By
Peep Club’s Ultra Gentle Lid & Lash Spray - £8.50
Peep Club’s Instant Relief Eye Spray - £15
Peep Club’s Soothing Coconut Eye Balm - £20
Words by Ellie Hammond for The Well Edit.
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