Women! Keep Your Eye Health in Clear Sight!
- Posted on: Nov 15 2019
Many women pay a good amount of attention to their eyes. They may learn to apply makeup in just the right way or to use false lashes to add an extra pop to their appearance. This is not a bad way to attend to the eyes, but there’s more that women need to be aware of, especially as they age. Research is clearly showing us that women face more risks for eye diseases than men. Here, we want to discuss why that is and what can be done about it.
What Research Says
Studies indicate that more women than men are expected to develop potentially severe eye conditions. These include age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. Each of these eye diseases can cause severe vision impairment or vision loss. According to research, women over 40 are more commonly diagnosed with these conditions than men in the same age group. What might be even more concerning than this is how few women recognize their risks.
- Fewer than 10% of American women realize they could develop eye disease.
- More than three-quarters of American women believe their risk for eye disease is equal to that of men.
- Five percent believe their risk for eye disease is lower than that of men.
Risk Factors Women Need to Know
- The very fact that, on average, women live longer than men, increases the risk of health conditions, including eye diseases.
- Several studies have linked hormonal fluctuations with changes in the eyes. Women’s hormones shift on a monthly basis. They vary more widely during pregnancy and perimenopause. These fluctuations increase the risk of eye disease.
- Drugs like birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy do not diminish the effects of natural hormone shifts for women. In fact, these medications may pose an additional risk for eye disease later in life.
- Obesity has been named a significant factor in poor general health. Obesity can lead to diabetes, which can result in diabetic retinopathy, a potentially serious eye disease.
Managing Eye Health
Women are encouraged to foster eye health through healthy habits such as:
- Not smoking or using tobacco
- Throwing out cosmetics that may have been used during an eye infection. Also, throwing out cosmetics that have been in the makeup case for several months.
- Eat well. A healthy diet doesn’t just help keep weight in check, but it also provides all parts of the body with the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that are needed for optimal function.
At Silverstein Eye in Chester, NJ, patients receive our full attention as we work together to manage eye health. To schedule a visit, call 908.879.7297.
Posted in: Eye Care, Eye Conditions
