Women's Eye Health and Safety
Are women more likely to be blind or visually impaired
than men? Yes. Two out of three people who are blind or visually
impaired are women.
Of the four leading causes of blindness in older Americans- age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the rate of women's cases outnumbers the men in all four categories.
Why are women more prone to blindness or visually impairment? Research indicates it is due to several factors:
- Women live longer than men, and many eye problems are age-related.
- Some eye diseases are more common in women; for example, dry eye syndrome is 2-3 times more prevalent in women. Women are at higher risk of autoimmune diseases that may affect the eye, such as Sjögren’s syndrome.
- Social or economic factors may limit women’s access to eye health
care.
If you are a women, what can you do to protect your vision?
- Schedule eye appointments for the entire family, including yourself; early detection of eye diseases can save sight
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- If you smoke, quit.
Learn more about Women's Eye Health at the following Web sites:
-
More Women Losing Sight to Eye Disease Than Men, Prevention of Blindness news release: http://www.preventblindness.org/news/releases/032508_1.html
-
Women's Eye Health Task Force: http://www.womenseyehealth.org/
If you have a visually impairment which is resulting in loss of independence, Florida Division of Blind Services can help you. Details are provided below.
Rehabilitation Services
Loss of common daily activities such as the inability to
drive safely, to read regular print or to watch T.V. can have a horrendous
effect on one's life that can lead to job loss or isolation. But low vision
rehabilitation is available to help a person preserve her/his quality of
life and maintain maximum independence.
There are strategies and various devices that can assist a person in gaining the life style s/he enjoyed prior to vision loss. These include such things as:
- Strategies such as changing the lighting at home or at your job to maximize the vision you have; using color contrasts (e.g. dark table cloth with light dishes); simple labeling techniques (e.g. rubber band around the conditioner, none on shampoo)
- Optical aides such as magnifiers, telescopes, microscopes, electronic magnifiers, and prisms.
- High tech aides such Closed Caption T.V. (CCTV) or reading machines
- Non optical aides such as large print, audio tapes, signature guides
- Computer technology such as special screen magnification devices such as Zoom Text or Magic
The list of strategies and devices are endless. A good
Web site to provide you with low vision resources is the
Low Vision Information
Center.
If you live in Florida and have vision loss that is causing you problems, you might benefit from one or more of our various programs. These include:
Braille and Talking Book Library Services
The Florida Division of Blind Services provides information and reading materials needed by individuals residing in Florida who are unable to use standard print as the result of visual, physical, or reading disabilities. These services are provided through its Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.
Services to Adults Who Are Faced With Vision Loss and Want to Live Independently
Independent living services are provided to enable individuals who are blind and severely visually impaired to live more independently in their homes and communities with the maximum degree of self-direction. Successful outcomes enable individuals to live more independently in their community and/or transition to the world of work.
Services to Individuals Seeking Employment
Vocational rehabilitation services are provided to assist individuals who have a bilateral visual impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; and need services to prepare for, enter or engage in or retain gainful employment. Successful outcomes lead to achievement of employment goals.