That's because the hormone estrogen controls the tear glands, so a reduction in estrogen translates into a reduction in tears, says Dr. Aquavella. Besides keeping our eyes comfortable, estrogen may protect our vision by preventing cataracts, a gradual clouding of the lens that affects about 13 million Americans, or about one in seven people over age 40. Studies show that menopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy are less likely to develop cataracts than those who don't. Although all women's eyes are affected by hormonal fluctuations, not all of us have vision problems that require correction. They are, in fact, the main reasons both men and women wear glasses or contact lenses.
Nearsightedness occurs when an eyeball is slightly longer than normal from front to back.
This affects the eye's ability to focus. Nearsighted people have poor distance vision. In farsighted people, the eyeball is slightly shorter than normal. They need corrective lenses for close work. Another common vision problem is astigmatism, an irregular curve in the cornea that causes blurred vision.