April Is Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month

Eye health is important for everyone, but especially so if you’re a woman. Women are at higher risk for certain eye conditions and it’s important to know what they are and why they occur.

Read on as a Marysville, WA optometrist talks about women’s eye health and steps you can take to keep your eyes and vision healthy.

What Is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month?

Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month is a month-long awareness campaign that raises awareness of eye health issues that affect women. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage people to visit their eye doctors, especially if they have not been seen in the last 12 months.

Why Are Women at Higher Risk for Eye Conditions?

A woman’s eye health is often more at risk than a man’s. This is because of the following:

• Hormonal changes can make your eyes more vulnerable to inflammation, which can cause dryness or redness in the eye.
• The same lifestyle habits that put you at higher risk for other conditions like heart disease also put you at higher risk for eyelid conditions like blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
• Women are more likely to have an autoimmune disease, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause inflammation in the eye. 
• Women are also more likely to have high blood pressure or diabetes, both of which can increase the risk for eye diseases like glaucoma.

Four Common Eye Issues Women Can Be at Risk For

• Eye dryness. This is one of the most common eye issues in women. It occurs when there isn’t enough moisture to lubricate your eyes.
• Cataracts. This is a clouding of the lens of your eye that causes blurry vision and makes it difficult to see clearly when you look at things up close (like reading).
• Glaucoma. This happens when fluid builds up inside your eyes, which puts pressure on them and damages the optic nerve.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is associated with a loss of vision, but unlike glaucoma it does not directly affect the eye’s ability to let light in.

When to See an Eye Doctor Right Away

It is important to take care of your eyes and be aware of the signs that something is wrong. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact an optometrist immediately:

• Headaches or blurred vision
• Pain in the eye or around it
• Floaters (small spots that appear in your field of vision)
• Eye pain or redness 
• Sudden loss of vision 
• Swelling in the eye 
• Pain when moving your eyes

And if you have more questions or wish to schedule an eye wellness checkup, please don’t hesitate to call us, your local Marysville, WA optometrist, anytime!