Women are Prone to Eye Disease
by Prevent Blindness America
Throughout their lives, women
will likely experience some sort of change in their vision, whether
it be a need for glasses or contacts, a serious infection or even
an eye disease. Because women
are more prone to eye disease than men, it is important for them to know how
to protect their sight, even if they haven’t noticed any symptoms.
Cataracts, glaucoma,
diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
four leading causes of blindness, are all more prevalent in women
than men. In fact, women make up two-thirds
of the more than 3.4 million Americans age 40 and older who are visually
impaired. Unfortunately, because there is no cure for these diseases,
early detection and treatment are the only way to preserve vision.
Because of these startling
numbers, Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization,
has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness
Month. The group hopes to educate the public on the importance
of eye care and encourage women of all ages to schedule an exam with
an eye care professional.
“There so many changes that the body goes through over our
lifetime that it is imperative that we monitor each of them closely,
especially our eyes,” added Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice
president of Prevent Blindness America. “A young woman going
through her first pregnancy, a middle-aged woman noticing she’s
having trouble with her peripheral vision, or an elderly woman who
is having a hard time reading the newspaper can all benefit tremendously
by getting a complete, professional eye exam.”
Women who are pregnant
can still have their eyes safely dilated. This
is also a good time for women who suffer from pre-existing conditions,
like high blood pressure and diabetes, to tell their eye doctor that
they are pregnant. Because of an increase in hormones, some
may notice changes in their vision including refractive changes,
dry eyes, puffy eyelids that obscure side vision and sensitivity
to light due to migraine headaches. Some vision changes in
pregnant women, such as blurred vision and seeing spots, may be signs
of a more serious problem and should be discussed with a doctor immediately.
Another eye disease
that affects mostly women is chronic dry eye. In
fact, one in 12 women over the age of 50 has the condition, which
may be caused by a decrease in estrogen levels due to menopause that
can change the quantity and quality of tears. Chronic dry eye
symptoms include blurred vision, light sensitivity and sensation
of itchiness or irritation in the eyes. Without treatment,
some may ultimately suffer vision loss.
Besides early detection, Prevent Blindness America offers suggestions
for women to keep their eyes healthy:
Eat Healthy and Stay Fit
The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the risk of cataracts
can be lowered by eating 3½ servings of fruits
or vegetables a day. Green leafy vegetables especially contain
loads of nutrients for the eye. Pairing a healthy diet with
exercise will reduce the risk of diabetes.
Take Supplements
Antioxidants
have been shown to actually reduce the progression of some eye illnesses,
including AMD. Vitamin A, riboflavin
(vitamin B2), vitamin C and zinc are good sources to help maintain
eye health.
Quit Smoking
Besides the typically-known
side effects of smoking including cancer, lung disease, etc., it
also increases the risk for eye diseases. Even
second hand smoke is dangerous.
Wear UV Eye Protection
When
venturing outdoors, PBA recommends wearing brimmed hats in conjunction
with UV-rated sunglasses (labeled: absorbs 99-100 percent of UV-A
and UV-B rays). UV rays are extremely dangerous to the eyes.
Know Your Family History
Genetics
plays a key role in eye disease. Research your family’s
health history and notify your eye care professional of any eye diseases
that run in the family.
For more information
on women’s eye health, including fact
sheets on eye diseases, pregnancy and vision, and the safe use of
cosmetics, please visit www.preventblindness.org or call 1-800-331-2020.
