Can low testosterone cause dry eyes​?

Dry eyes are very common.
They can make your eyes feel sore, gritty, or watery.

Many people ask:
“Can low testosterone cause dry eyes?”

The answer is yes, it can.

In this blog, we explain:

What is testosterone?

Testosterone is a hormone.

Hormones are messengers in the body.
They help control how different parts of the body work.

Testosterone is found in:

• Men
• Women

Men usually have higher levels than women.

Testosterone helps with:

• Muscle strength
• Energy levels
• Mood
• Sexual health
• Eye health

What happens when testosterone is low?

Testosterone levels can drop due to:

• Age
• Stress
• Some medical conditions
• Certain medicines
• Hormone changes

Low testosterone can cause:

• Low energy
• Low mood
• Poor sleep
• Low sex drive
• Dry eyes

What is dry eye?

Dry eye happens when:

• Your eyes do not make enough tears, or
• Your tears dry up too fast

Tears help keep the eyes:

• Smooth
• Comfortable
• Clear

When tears don’t work well, eyes can feel sore.

Common dry eye symptoms

Dry eyes can cause:

• Burning or stinging
• A gritty feeling
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Watery eyes
• Tired eyes

Symptoms may be worse:

• In the morning
• When using screens
• In dry or windy air

How does testosterone affect dry eyes?

Testosterone helps the oil glands in your eyelids.

These glands:

• Make oil for your tears
• Stop tears from drying too fast

When testosterone is low:

• Oil glands may not work well
• Tears dry up faster
• Eyes become dry and sore

This is a common cause of dry eye.

Who is more likely to have low testosterone and dry eyes?

Low testosterone and dry eye are more common in:

• Men over 40
• People with hormone changes
• People with autoimmune conditions
• People using certain medicines
• People with long screen time

Dry eye can also affect women, especially during hormone changes.

Can dry eye be the first sign of low testosterone?

Sometimes, yes.

For some people:

• Dry eye is one of the first symptoms
• Other signs may appear later

If dry eye does not improve with basic treatment, hormone levels may play a role.

Does testosterone treatment fix dry eyes?

Hormone treatment may help some people.
But it is not a dry eye treatment on its own.

Dry eye care usually still includes:

• Eye drops
• Eyelid care
• Tear support
• Professional treatments

Eye care should always be guided by a trained professional.

Other causes of dry eyes

Low testosterone is not the only cause.

Dry eye can also be caused by:

• Age
• Screen use
• Menopause
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Contact lenses
• Blepharitis
• Autoimmune conditions

Often, dry eye has more than one cause.

How is dry eye checked?

A Dry Eye Assessment looks at:

• Tear quality
• Tear stability
• Oil gland health
• Eyelid health
• Inflammation

This helps find the real cause of symptoms.

How is dry eye treated?

Dry eye treatment is different for each person.

Treatment may include:

• Preservative-free eye drops
• Warm eye masks
• Eyelid cleaning
• Lifestyle advice
• IPL treatment

Treating the cause gives better results.

Can dry eye improve with the right care?

Yes.

With the right treatment:

• Eyes feel more comfortable
• Vision becomes clearer
• Redness can reduce
• Daily tasks feel easier

Many people feel relief within weeks.

Should men talk about dry eye symptoms?

Yes. Dry eye affects men and women.

Eye discomfort is common and treatable.
There is no need to ignore symptoms.

Early care can prevent symptoms from getting worse.

When should I seek help?

You should seek help if:

• Dry eye lasts more than a few weeks
• Drops don’t help
• Vision becomes blurry
• Eyes feel painful or sore

An assessment can make a big difference.

Why choose My Eye Clinic in Gosforth?

At My Eye Clinic, we:

• Take dry eye seriously
• Look for the real cause
• Offer modern dry eye treatments
• Create clear, personal care plans

Our goal is healthy, comfortable eyes.

Take the dry eye suitability self-test

If dry eyes are affecting your daily life, help is available.

Take our quick dry eye suitability self-test to see if a dry eye assessment may be right for you.