Child health
Why are we addressing gender issues in vision loss?
Gender and vision loss
Authors:
P. Courtright; S. Lewallen
Publisher:
Community Eye Health Journal, 2009
Increasingly it is evident that women are affected by blindness and visual impairment to a much greater degree than men. In 1980 a systematic review of global population-based blindness surveys carried out showed that blindness is about 40 per cent more common in women compared to men. This short article from the Community Eye Health Journal explores the gender dimensions of vision loss. The document considers the different risk factors faced by men and women including social and cultural differences and biological.
Issues concerning the limited access women have to services are examined and the implications of women usually having a longer life expectancy. Cataract and trachoma are considered in addition to childhood blindness and briefly glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The authors emphasis the importance of understanding these problems at community, country, and global level. Reports should be provided which are disaggregated by sex.
