April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Did you know that more women suffer from visual impairments than men? One reason why women are affected by eye health issues more than men is because they tend to live longer. Women are also affected by hormonal factors, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). According to the NEI, 3.6 million Americans age 40 and older who suffer from visual impairment, including blindness, 2.3 million are women. Some other risk factors for visual impairment in women are age, smoking, poor nutrition, obesity. How can you make sure that you are taking care of your own eyes? Here are some tips:
See An Eye Doctor
You should make regular eye exams a part of your health routine. Prevent Blindness America recommends that everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam by age 40, if not earlier, and follow up care as recommended by an eye doctor. If you don’t have an eye doctor, you can find one using our Find An Eye Doctor tool here.
Ask Your Eye Doctor About Dry Eye
Did you know that dry eye affects an estimated 3.2 million American women and 1.6 million American men over age 50? Asian and Hispanic women are more likely to be affected by symptoms of dry eye syndrome. If you are a woman who suffers from dry eye, make sure to ask your eye care practitioner about CooperVision’s Proclear lenses. They are the only contact lenses with FDA clearance for the claim: "may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear."
Eat An Eye Healthy Diet
If you want healthy eyes, you should eat a diet that is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids to prevent vision loss from eye disease. For more information on tips to have healthier eyes, make sure to visit our Facebook page and follow us @CooperVision on Twitter.