Women suffer more from cataracts than men

>> Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and several factors make women more vulnerable to the disease. According to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 51% of blindness cases are caused by cataracts, and studies have already shown that women are the primary victims of the disease, marking 38.6% compared to 29.4% of men. Cataracts are a condition that manifests in the lens, which is the natural lens of the eyes, causing opacity that can be partial or complete. It can affect one eye or both, impairing the quality of vision, forming images that are unclear, blurred, and even whitish or yellowish. We spoke with the doctor from the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, ophthalmologist César Ronaldo Gomes Filho, to understand why women are more affected by this disease than men. According to the doctor, several factors contribute to women being more affected than men, but the main one is life expectancy. Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) indicate that about 30% of Brazilians over 60 years old suffer from cataracts. When we increase the age range to people aged 65 to 74 years, the numbers rise to 33.9%. Those older than 75 years mark 55.5% of those affected by cataracts. "Since women's life expectancy is higher than men's, about seven years more, there are more women in the older age groups, and thus we can expect a higher incidence of cataracts in the elderly population. This is a significant factor that leads to a greater number of cases among them," he said. "Some studies also point out that another factor contributing to women being more affected by cataracts is that during menstrual cycles, a woman's body experiences peaks of estrogen, which is the female sex hormone. This hormone accelerates the process of opacification of the lens, triggering cataracts," explained the doctor from the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória. César Ronaldo also mentioned that many women undergo hormone replacement therapies to alleviate menopause symptoms, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 50, leading to an increase in cases, as some studies suggest that hormone therapies can also accelerate the process of lens opacification. Not only are specific health issues for women responsible for the onset of cataracts, but other factors also contribute, such as family history; exposure to ultraviolet rays without protection from UVA and UVB lenses, such as solar radiation; frequent X-ray examinations; excessive use of alcohol and tobacco; continuous use of corticosteroids; autoimmune diseases like arthritis, arthrosis, diabetes, and hypothyroidism; and ocular diseases like glaucoma, uveitis, and retinal detachment can also accelerate the process. "It is also important to emphasize that cataracts are related to human aging regardless of sex, because after the age of 40, the eye undergoes natural changes. Proteins present in the internal lenses of the eye begin to oxidize, causing some alterations in vision and progressing towards the onset of the disease in question," informed the ophthalmologist. UV rays are still the main causative factors of the disease; the doctor reminds us that wearing sunglasses with UV filters is to the eye what sunscreen is to the skin, meaning they are essential when exposed to sunlight. To prevent the disease, the best approach is to age healthily and responsibly while protecting oneself from harmful factors, such as solar rays and inadequate nutrition. Regular visits to the ophthalmologist are essential for protection.