April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month | North Texas Eye Research Institute

April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month.

Did you know women suffer from more vision problems than men? Women make up two-thirds of all people living with blindness or visual impairment from diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataract. Among women age 40 and older in the U.S., 2.7 million are blind or visually impaired.

Tips to take care of yourself and your vision:

• Get a dilated eye exam. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to know if your eyes are healthy and you are seeing your best. Talk to your eye care professional about how often you should have one.

• Live a healthy lifestyle. To lower your risk of eye disease, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes. Refrain from smoking, which has been linked to AMD, cataract, and glaucoma.

• Know your family history. Talk with your family about their eye health history. Many eye diseases are hereditary.

• Use protective eyewear. Protect your eyes when doing household chores or yardwork, playing sports, or working on the job. Wear safety glasses, goggles, shields, or eye guards made of polycarbonate. Talk with your eye care provider about the correct type of protective eyewear for your needs.

• Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses help protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase your risk of cataract and AMD. When buying sunglasses, look for those that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.

• Expectant mothers should be aware of possible vision changes during pregnancy.

• Women who have diabetes or gestational diabetes should visit their eye doctor.

• Other things you can do to protect your vision for life:
o Use eye cosmetics safely
o Use contact lenses safely

For more information on women keeping their eyes health, visit https://www.preventblindness.org/see-jane-see
Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH)