Women Eye Health: Aging Eyes & Common Vision Problems

April 9, 2019

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Taking care of your health can be as easy or tedious as you want to make it. You can completely let go and not take care of anything and fall victim to a deadly eye disease or, the better option, take care of the little things and save yourself from falling into a dark ditch of despair. I say that because every time some woman is hit with the heartbreaking news of a diagnosis of a disease, the first challenge is battling the depression that comes with that disease.

Summing up, your health is wealth, particularly for women who are nearing their 50s and are concerned about their aging eyes and vision problems. If you compromise on your health, every aspect of life ricochets it’s effects.

You are in luck, given the fact that this is Women’s Eye Health month; you don’t need to be alone in your eye health battles. Join hands or shall I say, eyes, with IrisVision and make the most of your eye health.

But first, let’s get down to the fact, why women?

Well, from the 4.1 million visually impaired or blind Americans aged 40 and above, 2.6 million are women! and according to the statistics found at Prevent Blindness America, we saw that women are more likely to have the four kinds of eye diseases.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

types of macular degeneration

Cataracts

Usually appears as a cloudy substance in the eye leading to vision loss. Compared to macular degeneration, there are good treatment options for cataracts and regaining eyesight, but only if detected on time. If left untreated, you could have better luck with an invasive eye surgery.

Diabetic Retinopathy

diabetic retinopathy

diabetic eye disease

national eye health institute

40 – 45

Glaucoma

glaucoma

Heard about untreated refractive errors? They are more common in women

Ever heard about untreated refractive errors? Well, they are more common in women. As the name suggests, refractive errors or also termed as refraction errors, are problems associated with focusing light accurately onto the retina due to the shape of the eye.

In addition to the four major eye diseases I mentioned above, women are more likely to have untreated refractive errors, which include the most common types like myopia or near-sightedness, hyperopia or far-sightedness and astigmatism. Although these are treatable vision problems (Yes, there are untreatable vision problems as well), but they can cause major vision impairments if left unchecked.

Dry eye – Also more common in women

National Eye Institute estimates that more than 3 million women have dry eye, especially women who have had their menopause or experienced a premature menopause. They are at a higher risk of eye surface damage due to dry eye potentially leading to vision loss.

Presbyopia – Something to worry about for women over 40

Another common vision problem to watch out for women over 40. It is an eye condition affecting the ability of focusing on up close objects clearly. It is often caused by the loss of elasticity in the lens, which usually comes with age.

I could go on about eye conditions plaguing women, but scaring you into taking better care of your eye is not the goal here (Although, it wouldn’t be so bad if that works). Let’s talk about what you can do and should do to decrease your chances of becoming a victim to eye problems that come with age.

A healthy lifestyle goes a long way

Other than controlling your weight, you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle for an overall healthy you. It will also keep your eyes healthy along with the rest of your body. Exercising regularly, eating a balanced and colorful diet(rich in green and leafy vegetables and high in beta carotene like carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and food rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flaxseeds), not smoking and taking in good amount of water are the right ways to go about it.

Extra vision care when pregnant

Many women experience temporary vision loss and vision shifts along with migraines, diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. There are some leading eye problems I mentioned above as well. Whether you have a pre existing eye condition or not, it is very important to visit your eye doctor if you feel your vision is changing in any way.

According to American academy of ophthalmology, an eye condition known as optic neuritis (ON) is quite common to affect women of childbearing age and pregnant women.

Before you run off to Google “what is optic neuritis”, let me save you the time and effort and tell you that it is an inflammation of the optic nerve that causes vision loss. If you get the inflammation under control, you get your vision back, but not if the inflammation causes any damage to the optic nerve.

Night sleep is very important

Get your goodnight sleep by hook or crook. Not only is this essential for good eye health, but it will also rejuvenate you and you will look and feel great, all through the day.

Women as caregivers

In addition to taking care of themselves, women take care of everyone in the family. That responsibility comes with making health choices for the family as well. A woman making her vision health a priority will most positively affect people around her because you can’t help someone if you need help yourself.

Don’t skip out on eye exams

We undermine the importance of dilated eye exams till the time the eye doctor tells us that we are now a victim of some deadly eye disease. Don’t skip out on your routine eye exams. The best way to ensure that your vision is healthy is to get it checked by the doctor. In most cases, eye damage could have been prevented with an on time diagnosis, and in case you did not know, any vision lost due to damage to the optic nerve is lost permanently. Why risk it then?

An added benefit, a dilated eye exam can also help identify other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure. How does visiting the ophthalmologist (on time) sound now?

Ammad Khan, the CEO of IrisVision says,

“Meeting countless patients with eye problems, one thing I want to send a clear message about is the importance of regular eye exams. No matter what age you are, man, woman or child – The first step to eye care is getting regular eye exams by an eye care professional”

Keep your hands clean

Talking about eye health, what does keeping the hands clean have to do with that?

Well, did you know that you get a cold by the bacteria traveling in through your eyes? and that happens when you rub your eyes with hands carrying that bacteria. Similarly, you get pink eye with dirty hands touching your eye as well.

Keeping your hands clean make sense now?

Other than these basic steps, you could take care of your vision by:

Not smoking because other than harming your general health, it also affects your vision. it can increase your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration

Taking vitamin supplements after discussing with a medical professional. As the need and importance changes with age

Learning of any family history of eye disease and taking the right preventive measures

Check and test cosmetics before you use

Use contacts with care and follow best practices when wearing them

That’s it for eye care tips that could help with aging eyes and vision problems. Make the most of eye vision month and follow through on anything you learn that helps your vision. If you or a loved one has any eye problem that causes low vision, be sure to contact us or get in touch with our experts.