Women’s Unique Vision Issues

It’s no secret that women tend to deal with vision issues much more often than men. From conditions that develop with age to total blindness, a greater proportion of women across the globe need vision support. Here are a few statistics that demonstrate this point:

• Three million women suffer from dry eye syndrome, compared to 1.7 million men
• Women make up 66 percent of the global blind population
• 65 percent of AMD cases are women

But, why is this the case? Are female eyes really that different from male eyes? Like with so many women’s health issues, the answer may lie in our hormonal differences.

Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain forms of cataracts are also more prevalent in women than in men. In fact, more than half of Americans age 80 and older have a cataract. Hormones definitely explain these statistics to some extent, but researchers still are not sure why women are more likely to develop cortical cataracts.

Women’s Unique Vision Issues Increase with Age

The truth, of course, is that all humans are more susceptible to common vision issues like AMD as they age. However, one of the reasons they affect women more often is because women tend to live longer. Of course, this isn’t the case everywhere. In developing countries, where women often have less access to healthcare than men, infectious diseases like trachoma are more common in women. However, in countries where women have more equal access to healthcare, they live longer and thus tend to develop age-related eye issues more often.

Researchers believe that one of the key causes of some of these vision issues is sleep deprivation. The ophthalmology department at Mayo Clinic found that sleep deprivation can lead to blurred vision and eye discomfort. If those conditions are allowed to persist, in chronic stages they can bring about major vision problems. One of these diseases is glaucoma, which is the second most common cause of blindness.

As women continue through life into menopause, symptoms like hot flashes also tend to disrupt sleep. Added to that is the rise in single-parent homes. In most of these cases, the children are living with the mother. This means more stress and less sleep for the mother. All of these realities can lead to vision problems, either at the time or later in life.

How Can Women Protect Their Vision?

To help protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy, read and implement the following tips.

• Do not smoke
• Wear a hat or sunglasses when you are in the sun
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning booths
• Maintain a healthy diet, including lots of green vegetables
• Limit alcoholic drinks
• Keep diabetes under control

You should also seek regular eye exams, especially after the age of 40. Since many eye diseases show up later in life, this is a crucial time for exams. Your eye doctor can spot the early signs of various eye diseases so you can get treatment right away.

The Good News

There are steps that women can take to reduce their risk of vision problems. Our eyes are exposed to many damaging elements throughout our lives. Some of these we can avoid with proper care. UV and UVB rays from the sun can cause damage to the retina of our eyes.

Making sure that you have sunglasses that block all of these rays is an easy and important step in protecting your vision. Wide-brimmed hats will help, but you should also wear sunglasses whenever you are outside.

Sleep is also an important aspect of eye health. When we sleep, our bodies attempt to repair the damage done. Lack of sleep means that there is less time for the healing to take place. You also must consider that if you aren’t sleeping, you’re probably doing something that involves your vision. It could be either working on a computer, watching television, or maybe reading a book.

These all put a strain on your eyes, especially if the lighting is bad. So, you’re not only not getting the benefit of sleep, you’re adding to already strained eyes.

Exercise is another important aspect of eye health. People who stay active are less likely to develop macular degeneration and other forms of age-related vision problems. So, make sure that you get your exercise today. Walk to the store or work if possible; take the stairs instead of the elevator and make time for a walk in the park. Your eyes will thank you. You never know, more exercise may even help you to sleep better.

We can’t emphasize too much the importance of a good diet when it comes to your vision health. However, we understand that you may not have the time, energy, or money to eat well every day. It’s crucial that you get all the necessary nutrients your eyes depend on to stay strong. So, consider another option besides strenuous meal planning and high grocery bills. Eye vitamins and supplements are a convenient option.

Of course, while these will work, improving your diet naturally is a better source of the nutrients your eyes need. For more information about the foods high in these nutrients, see our post, “Natural Eye Health Starts and Ends with Your Diet.”

Women suffer a higher risk for many types of vision problems due to their hormones and access to healthcare. As a woman, you should make taking care of your vision a priority. But, women, men, and children can all benefit from these vision tips. It’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your eyes!