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“14 million people suffer from vision impairment,” says Dr. Hilary Hawthorne, founder of the Community Eye Center Optometry in Los Angeles.

The most common causes of visual impairment are cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. These are expected to be more common in older women, yet they can also occur in women as young as 20 to 40 years of age.  Certain forms of cataract, dry eye syndrome, thyroid disease (which can be associated with serious eye disease), autoimmune diseases (chronic, systemic illnesses that affect the whole body), and age-related afflictions such as macular degeneration are all more prevalent in women than in men, in part because women tend to live longer.

“The number one global cause of blindness is cataract impairment,” says Hawthorne. “Not only are women affected more, but also people with brown eyes.”

When it comes to women and their eyes, there are some crucial tidbits of information that many people are not aware of.  It is simply untrue that what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

Feast Your Eyes

Taking care of your eyes and your overall health is a crucial step to preventing vision loss from common eye problems.

“Vision impairment is mostly preventable,” says Hawthorne. “It’s about making behavorial changes. Right now, because of the increasing diabetes epidemic, in addition to other factors, blindness and other vision impairments are expected to double by 2030. Add the fact that 4 out 5 black women are either overweight or obese, and it becomes even more understandable how lifestyle plays a vital role in eye care.”

A number of studies published in the Journal of Nutrition support the idea that both prevention and help for many health problems are in your grocer’s fruit and vegetable aisle! Women are often the ones who often choose the foods for the diet in the home, so choose well. Don’t underestimate the importance of Vitamin A, zinc, anti-oxidants, and minerals to eye health. You can prevent or slow vision loss by what you eat.

See to your health, inspire others to live healthfully, and help your loved ones and communities continue to be people of great vision.  Your eyes will thank you.

 

 

Why Black Women’s Eye Health Is More At Risk  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

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