It’s no secret that women experience quite a few hormonal changes throughout their adult lives. Often called the body’s “messengers,” hormones move through the bloodstream, regulating hunger, sleep, reproduction, and mood. But did you know that major hormonal shifts, including pregnancy and menopause, can affect your eyes?  

“Estrogen and progesterone, the two female sex hormones, can impact vision in a variety of ways,” explains Nishika Reddy, MD, an ophthalmologist at John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. “For the most part, there’s no cause for alarm, and it’s a normal side effect of an increase or decrease in either hormone.”