Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Did you know that most women are at a greater risk for vision loss and impairment than men? The World Health Organization estimates that women account for 64.5% of all visually impaired people worldwide. Because of this, Women's Eye Health and Safety Month is observed during the month of April. Since women are more likely to suffer from eye-related problems than men, it’s essential to educate women on how to take care of their eyes and prevent eye injuries.

It’s important to take care of your eyes as part of your overall health plan, especially as you age. Women are more prone to developing eye problems such as dry eye syndrome, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma than men. Fortunately, women can take proactive steps to protect their eye health by becoming aware of the potential causes of eye injuries and eye health problems. Some of these include:

Makeup: Many women are daily users of all kinds of makeup, and they may be exposing their eyes to potential harm if they do not use eye makeup safely. Using expired products, sharing makeup with others, using harsh chemicals for cleaning or not washing makeup brushes regularly can introduce bacteria and other harmful elements into their eyes. Please take the necessary precautions when applying makeup to protect your eyes.

Lifestyle: Other factors that contribute to eye-related health problems in women include smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Women who smoke are at a higher risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Obesity and diabetes can increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness if left untreated.

After understanding these risks, women can take proactive steps to protect their eye health by adopting some simple changes including:

Creating a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals—studies show that foods rich in vitamins C, E, and B1 can protect the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration. Foods that contain these vitamins include spinach, kale, broccoli, red peppers, berries, citrus fruits, and guava.
Wearing sunglasses and other protective eyewear when participating in activities that may cause eye injuries—no matter the season, you should wear sunglasses when outside. UV light can increase the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, so remember to wear your sunnies! Additionally, wearing protective eye gear when doing activities that present a risk for eye injury is also important.
Quitting smoking—smoking has adverse effects on your lungs, heart, and eyes. Breaking the smoking habit can protect your vision and your overall health.
Scheduling regular eye exams—your eye care professional can look for more than 30 different medical conditions during an eye exam, often before symptoms are present.

We celebrate Women's Eye Health and Safety Month to raise awareness of eye health and safety specifically for women. By adopting simple and proactive changes, you can help preserve your vision and prevent future eye disease. Call us today to schedule your annual eye exam!