Dry Eyes and Menopause

In this episode of In Focus, host and board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Rupa Wong dives into a highly misunderstood aspect of women's health after being contacted by a writer for Real Simple magazine. Sharing her personal shift into her 50s and her own sudden intolerance to daily contact lenses, Dr. Wong uncovers the hidden link between chronic midlife eye discomfort and the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause. Joined in spirit by the revolutionary insights of board-certified urologist Dr. Kelly Casperson, this conversation pulls back the curtain on why so many women are left treating surface-level symptoms while completely missing the root endocrine cause. Every woman deserves to be a fly on the wall for this discussion, because your visual comfort isn't just fluctuating, your biological machine is running out of fuel. What You’ll Learn: The unique connection between contact lens intolerance and shifting internal biology that dictates your daily vision comfort. Why a hidden 50% drop in a major circulating androgen by your 40s destroys the very glands lining your eyelids. The specific architectural breakdown of your tear film layers that triggers chronic evaporative dry eye during perimenopause. A critical ergonomic hack involving your computer monitor setup that acts as a natural biological shield against moisture loss. The precise thermal requirement and nightly routine needed to melt stagnant, depleted oils and combat systemic inflammation. Topics covered in this episode: dry eyes in midlife women, hormones and eye comfort, tear film and eyelid oil glands, at-home strategies for dry eyes, in-office treatments for dry eyes, testosterone and women’s health, self-advocacy in menopause and hormone care 00:00 dry eyes in midlife women 02:00 hormones and eye comfort 04:14 tear film and eyelid oil glands 08:57 testosterone and women’s health 10:30 at-home strategies for dry eyes 13:17 in-office treatments for dry eyes 17:35 self-advocacy in menopause and hormone care Resources: Newsletter: https://www.drrupawong.com/sign-up Instagram: @drrupawong Youtube Channel: Dr Rupa Wong Interested in becoming a patient?: Honolulu Eye Clinic Earn FREE CE Credit: Learn at Pinnacle App This episode is brought to you by ⁠The Pinnacle Podcast Network⁠!