Just as there are diseases that have a greater impact according to age or ethnicity, there are also pathologies that have a greater impact on one sex or the other (beyond those that affect specific organs of each body). In general, heart disease, some types of cancer such as colorectal cancer, liver complications, and hypertension are more prevalent in men. In contrast, cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or thyroid diseases are more associated with women.

But is the same true for eye health, and do eye diseases affect one sex more than the other? According to the WHO, yes: there is a higher prevalence of eye problems in women than in men. Undoubtedly, the main reason is that women have a longer life expectancy than men, and many eye problems are associated with old age. In addition, there are natural issues (hormonal changes in a woman's life are directly related to some eye pathologies) and social issues: gender differences at the economic level and in access to health services. All this means that, as the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) states, two-thirds of the world's blind people are women.

What are the eye problems in women?

In addition to blindness, there are several eye problems in women that affect women more than men. Here are some examples:

Trachoma

This eye disease is caused by an infection of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and, if not treated correctly and in time, can lead to blindness. In fact, it is the leading preventable cause of blindness worldwide. The first symptoms are itching and mild irritation of the eyelids. As it develops, the eyelids become increasingly swollen, and pus forms in the eyes.

Eighty-five percent of the world's population with trachoma resides in poor areas of the African continent, and it is especially prevalent in children under five years of age. Therefore, as women play the role of caregivers, they are much more exposed to this disease.

Glaucoma

The hormonal changes experienced by women in their different biological stages have a great impact on intraocular pressure, and this, in turn, is directly related to glaucoma. Unlike trachoma, this disease has no cure and is, in fact, the leading irreversible cause of blindness in the world.

One of the most serious issues with glaucoma is the difficulty of early diagnosis: it causes no pain and hardly presents any symptoms; the patient simply loses vision little by little, almost without realizing it.

Dry eye syndrome

Menopause greatly affects women's eye health, and dry eye is one of the most common complications. In fact, in many cases, it is a sign of the climacteric and the end of the menstrual period. This ocular complication is quite annoying and generates a constant sensation of grit in the eye, burning, and a lot of stinging.

Autoimmune diseases

Women are also more prone to some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, or hyperthyroiditis, which have a serious impact on eye health.

At what periods of their lives are women more vulnerable to eye problems?

As we were saying, the hormonal changes that women go through throughout their lives have an impact on their eye health. Unlike male bodies, women are subject to many alterations in hormones at different times of life: puberty and menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, climacteric, and menopause. In addition, to this must be added the use of contraceptives, which are usually hormonal, and certain medications that also interfere with the hormonal cycle.

Therefore, if it is important to take care of eye health in general, it is even more important at potentially critical