Women are #1 in Vision Problems

When it comes to problems with eyes and vision, more women than men are affected and the reason for this disparity is unknown.

Worldwide statistics indicate that women account for two-thirds of the visually impaired or blind. In the United States, almost 2.7 million women over the age of 40 have low vision or are blind. In addition, 3 million American women are affected by Dry Eye Syndrome, compared to 1.7 million men. Eye care experts are puzzled as to the cause of women being affected in larger numbers with eye problems when compared to men. Speculation has been that hormones play a role but there is no hard evidence that this is the primary cause and women who take post-menopausal hormones still experience dry eye issues. Researchers have also looked at age as a possible factor in why more women than men have age-related macular degeneration.  But even after adjusting for age, more women than men have age-related macular degeneration. Since more women suffer from autoimmune disorders, eye experts believe that might be a possible link. Inflammation coincides with autoimmune diseases and inflammation often plays a role in eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome. Eye care professionals stress the importance of women not neglecting their eyes and getting complete eye exams, as well as discussing any concerns about their eye health with their eye care provider.*