“Prevent Blindness has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month in an effort to educate the public on the increased risk for women and vision health issues, as well as steps that can be taken to prevent vision loss.

Two out of every three people living with blindness or vision problems are women according to the National Eye Institute. Women are at greater risk of developing a number of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma.

At Texas Retina, we know that women often manage their family’s health and take care of everyone else first. However, it is important that women make their own eye health a priority as early detection and consistent treatment can significantly reduce the risk of vision loss. Here are a few tips:

• Women 40 and older should have an annual dilated eye exam.
• They should also see their optometrist or ophthalmologist any time they experience a change in vision.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. This should include foods such as salmon, broccoli and dark leafy greens.
• Stay active as regular exercise is known to reduce the risk of eye disease.
• Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing proper sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation.
• Avoid smoking.“

Texas Retina (https://www.texasretina.com/2024/04/02/april-is-womens-eye-health-and-safety-month)