Naomi Watts says dry eyes were a missed menopause symptom.

Naomi Watts says she ignored dry eyes during menopause until learning it can be linked to hormonal changes; she is partnering with Johnson & Johnson to raise awareness about eye health for women in midlife.

Naomi Watts says she did not recognize persistent dry eyes as part of her transition through perimenopause and menopause until later in the process. The 57-year-old actress, a co-founder of the menopause wellness brand Stripes, described other menopause symptoms in her 2025 book "Dare I Say It" and has discussed her experiences publicly. She is now working with Johnson & Johnson to raise awareness about eye health for women in midlife. Experts quoted in the article note that menopause can affect vision and that many women do not connect eye changes to hormonal shifts. Key points: - Naomi Watts, 57, reported ignoring dry eyes for years before linking them to menopause. - Watts co-founded Stripes and wrote the 2025 book "Dare I Say It," and is partnering with Johnson & Johnson on eye health awareness for midlife women. - Charissa Lee, an optometrist who leads professional affairs for vision at Johnson & Johnson, said menopause can cause blurry vision and dry, tired eyes and that many women notice a need for reading glasses. - Dr. Stephanie Faubion of the Menopause Society said medical schools need better menopause training to prevent misdiagnosis and improve patient care. - The article reports that more than a third of women going through perimenopause or menopause are prescribed common antidepressants, and use among women doubles during these years. - Watts said some women hesitate to raise menopause symptoms with doctors and that she brings a list of symptoms to appointments. Summary: Naomi Watts' account highlights dry eyes as an under-recognized symptom of menopause and underscores reported gaps in clinical training and patient-provider conversations. She is partnering with Johnson & Johnson to promote awareness about eye health for women in midlife; further details about public education or changes in medical training were not specified.