Women face unique challenges and risks when it comes to maintaining healthy vision. Research indicates that women are more susceptible to certain eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and thyroid eye disease.¹

Vision and Cognitive Health

There’s a link between vision impairment and cognitive decline. Elderly women with visual impairments are 2 to 5 times more likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal vision.² This statistic underscores the importance of regular eye exams and vision care for women.

Cosmetics and Eye Health

Some cosmetics and procedures may present risks to eye health.³ Products and procedures like permanent makeup, Botox injections, dermal fillers, eyelash extensions, and mascara have been associated with conditions such as hyperpigmentation, contact dermatitis, dry eye disease, ocular surface disease, and bacterial infections. Talk with your eye care provider for more information on how cosmetics can affect your eye health and how to lessen the risks associated with them.

Pregnancy and Vision Changes

Pregnancy brings about hormonal changes that can affect the eyes, leading to symptoms like blurred vision or dry eye.^4,5 If your vision changes or if you are experiencing one of these symptoms it’s important to talk with your doctor, even though many eye conditions that appear during pregnancy resolve after giving birth. In addition, your prescription may change during pregnancy so optometrists recommend that women wait between six and nine months after delivery before making changes to their prescription to ensure their eyes have adjusted. 

Pregnant individuals with diabetes or gestational diabetes should see their eye doctor once per trimester since they are at a higher risk of developing serious eye conditions.⁵

Take Action for Your Vision

An annual eye exam is a simple yet effective step towards preserving vision and detecting issues early on. Schedule your annual eye exam today.

Sources

1. The roles of sex and gender in women’s eye health disparities in the United States, Society for Women’s Health Research Women’s Eye Health Working Group (Published online 2021 Oct 20. doi: 10.1186/s13293-021- 00401-3)
2. Is Visual Impairment a Risk Factor for Dementia in Women? By Lynda Seminara. Selected and Reviewed By: Neil M. Bressler, MD, and Deputy Editors, Journal Highlights, JAMA Ophthalmology, June 2020
3. Complications and adverse effects of periocular aesthetic treatments, Published: April 28, 2021, DOI
4. Ocular Changes in Pregnancy By Yasaman Ataei, MD, MS, and Jessica Randolph, MD, January 2022, Edited by Bennie H. Jeng, MD.
5. How Pregnancy Impacts Your Vision, March 18, 2023