Women’s Eye Health Month

Did you know that women are more likely to have vision problems than men are? April is designated Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month for that very reason. Most women don’t even realize the greater risks to their eyesight, so awareness is key to raising attention. According to Friends for Sight, two-thirds of blindness and visual impairments worldwide occur in women.

Eye issues that commonly and more frequently occur in women are Cataracts, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Dry Eye, refractive error, impairment, and even blindness. That’s multiple major eye issues! Now the question is why do these issues occur more frequently in women? There are many factors that contribute to vision concerns in women.

According to Friends For Sight, two reasons are that women typically live longer than men and the impact of hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life. There are other significant things that could impact a woman’s sight, such as birth control, pregnancy, menopause, breast cancer, and fertility drugs. There are also autoimmune diseases that women are more likely to have that can have negative impacts on the eyes, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. A few risk factors for eyesight are obesity, smoking, age, and poor nutrition.

What you can you do as a woman (or anyone) to protect your vision? First of all, make sure you regularly schedule eye exams with your optometrist. Your eye doctor can catch vision issues early on, potentially when you’re able to correct the issue or slow the onset. If you are pregnant, you should be sure to see your eye doctor regularly. Eating a healthy diet can help anyone maintain healthy sight. Quit smoking to significantly lower your risks of eye disease. Use cosmetics and contact lenses safely. Wear quality sunglasses year-round.

If it’s time for you to schedule your eye exam, give us a call!