Women and Eye Disease

More Women Losing Sight to Eye Disease Than Men

Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic Urges Women to Help Protect their Vision with a Dilated Eye Exam

More women than men are diagnosed with vision threatening eye disease every year. Potentially blinding diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy strike women in some cases twice as much as men. Although the theories for the cause of this vary, the numbers illustrate a disturbing truth.


An updated report from Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute shows that not only have the numbers of age-related eye disease risen across the board, but that women are still largely more affected than men. For example, of the more than 2 million Americans age 50 and older that have AMD, more than 1.3 million of those cases are women. And, of the 4.4 million Americans ages 40 and older that have diabetic retinopathy, 2.3 million are female.


Of the more than 3.6 million Americans age 40 and older who suffer from visual impairment, including blindness, 2.3 million are women. Vision impairment is defined as having 20/40 or worse vision in the better eye even with eyeglasses. Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month to raise awareness of these issues.


The 2008 update from the “Vision Problems in the U.S.” study confirmed earlier projections that as the baby boomer population continues to age, the number of those diagnosed with vision problems is also increasing. Vision loss not only detracts from quality of life, it also has a significant burden on the U.S. economy. Prevent Blindness America estimates that costs associated with visual impairment and blindness costs $51.4 billion year.


Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic urges all Americans to make an eye appointment immediately if they have the following symptoms:

  • Unusual trouble adjusting to dark rooms
  • Difficulty focusing on near or distant objects
  • Squinting or blinking due to unusual sensitivity to light or glare;
  • Change in color of iris
  • Red-rimmed, encrusted or swollen lids
  • Recurrent pain in or around eyes
  • Double vision
  • Dark spot at the center of viewing
  • Lines and edges appear distorted or wavy
  • Excess tearing or "watery eyes”
  • Dry eyes with itching or burning
  • Seeing spots or ghost-like images