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April Is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month
Posted by: Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute in Worth Sharing...
Prevent Blindness has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month to educate women about the steps they can take today to help preserve vision in the future. More women than men have an eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. According to the Prevent Blindness study, The Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems, these numbers will only continue to increase in the years to come.
At Florida Eye, we spread awareness about the eye health issues that affect individuals of all ages and gender year-round. This month, we dedicate this blog to optimum eye health for women.
Why More Women Tend to Suffer Vision Loss Than Men?
Women make up most of the 4.4 million Americans age 40 and older who are visually impaired or blind. Some eye conditions can cause vision loss and even Blindness. These include:
- Cataracts, a clouding of the eye.
- Diabetic-retinopathy, which causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
- Glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve, often with increased
eye pressure. - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) gradually affects central vision.
The easiest way to test for common eye problems is a dilated eye exam – in which your eye doctor uses drops to widen your pupils and check for common issues. According to the CDC, this exam is the best way to detect eye disease’s early stages.
Adopt Good Eye Habits to Lessen or Prevent Future Vision Problems
Receive an annual eye exam. Regular dilated eye exams help monitor your vision status.
Eat a healthy diet. Good nutrition is the key to good health, including your vision. Dark green vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) potentially. Also, remember to keep your diet low in sodium and caffeine.
Quit smoking today. Crushing the habit of smoking can reduce the risk of a host of diseases such as cancer and respiratory issues. Smoking is the most important risk factor for AMD and progression.
Pregnant women should see their eye doctor regularly! If you are pregnant, discuss any vision changes with your eye doctor so you can get the correct prescription change, if needed.
Having healthy eyes not only keeps us alert but keeps us safe. It is of the utmost importance to keep our eyes safe and have regular eye exams to check for any problems.
We Care About Your Eye Health
If you are concerned about protecting your own eye health or a female loved one, call us TODAY to schedule an appointment.
Reference: American Academy of Ophthalmology
