Factors such as hormonal changes, age and smoking put women at a higher risk for visual impairment and blindness. Each year, April month is observed as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Sponsored by Prevent Blindness, America, the initiative aims to educate women about the steps they can take to help stop vision loss. Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.
According to the statistics from National Eye Institute (NEI), women have greater instances of eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract. NEI recommends that with age, it is important for women to have regular eye exams to detect age-related eye diseases early. Other steps to protect your eyes include
- Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam
- Living a healthy lifestyle
- Knowing your family healthy history
- Using protective eyewear
- Wearing sunglasses
A vitamin-rich diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, mainly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens can keep your eyes healthy. Studies suggest that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut can also improve eye health.
Women spending a lot of time at the computer may forget to blink and this can make the eyes tired. Following the 20-20-20 rule can reduce eyestrain: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds