The importance of eye care
When it comes to vision problems, women are more vulnerable than men. We have higher rates of all three of the top eye diseases: glaucoma (a condition involving damage to the optic nerve), macular degeneration (which degrades central vision) and cataracts (a clouding of the lens of the eye). Thats mainly because theyre age-related diseases, and statistically, women simply live longer. But certain ocular conditions are more common in young women too. Dry eye, for example, is much more prevalent in women than men, says Kristen North, an Ottawa-based optometrist. Blame our hormonestear quality and quantity are connected to fluctuations in the bodys estrogen and testosterone levels, and those happen more in women, especially around pregnancy and post-menopause.So what can you do to take care of your peepers? We rounded up six guidelines.(Related:My Eyesight Is Getting Worse. Could It Be Related to the Pandemic?)