>> Age, pregnancy hormones, and autoimmune diseases, which are predominantly present in women, are factors that contribute to the emergence of vision problems.
Shall we start with some statistics? Well, of the 45 million blind people worldwide, two-thirds are women, meaning 30 million. Vision problems indeed affect more women, and the reasons for this are diverse, including hormonal changes and a higher life expectancy, greater than that of men. The good news is that all problems can be treated and even cured, what will define is the speed with which they are diagnosed.
According to Dr. Marília Vilas Boas from the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, for early diagnosis to occur, it is important and fundamental to give due importance to the discomforts indicated by eye diseases.
“Difficulty seeing, burning, itching, pain, and redness are some of the symptoms indicated in various types of eye-related problems. Few diseases, like glaucoma, are silent in their early stages. For this reason, follow-up with an ophthalmologist should be regular,” said the doctor.
The doctor stated that the fact that women have more autoimmune diseases than men can also be considered an aggravating factor, as autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis have a significant impact on vision, potentially leading to blindness in more severe cases.
As they live longer, the age factor brings with it some eye problems that influence the fact that they present more eye issues than the male population. “Cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are problems that mostly occur with aging, being prevalent diseases in older individuals,” warned the doctor.
When young and fertile, most of the female population chooses to have one or more children, and during pregnancy, many hormonal changes occur that can also lead to some vision problems.
“The main eye problems that can occur during pregnancy include dry eyes, blurred vision, development of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and also increased sensitivity of the cornea, which usually decreases in the last months of pregnancy and can return to normal after the baby is born,” said Marília.
The doctor also warned about preeclampsia, which is a specific pregnancy-related hypertension that can occur from the 20th week. Signs are often identified through the eyes in up to 8% of pregnant women, with the patient likely complaining of temporary vision loss, increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or the formation of halos or flashes.
“Another very important factor when it comes to pregnant women is gestational diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage small blood vessels that nourish the retina. For this reason, a diabetic pregnant woman may experience eye problems related to clarity and focus, and in more severe cases, even vision loss,” she warned.
Lawyer Elline Rodrigues stated that she had gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy. “I went to the doctor and had to follow a very strict diet the whole time to avoid numerous problems for myself and the child, including the doctor warned me about the risk of blindness,” she said.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps prevent more serious eye problems, and being consistent and aware of the importance of consulting an ophthalmologist at least once a year also contributes to preventing complications and treating diseases in their early stages.
Shall we start with some statistics? Well, of the 45 million blind people worldwide, two-thirds are women, meaning 30 million. Vision problems indeed affect more women, and the reasons for this are diverse, including hormonal changes and a higher life expectancy, greater than that of men. The good news is that all problems can be treated and even cured, what will define is the speed with which they are diagnosed.
According to Dr. Marília Vilas Boas from the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, for early diagnosis to occur, it is important and fundamental to give due importance to the discomforts indicated by eye diseases.
“Difficulty seeing, burning, itching, pain, and redness are some of the symptoms indicated in various types of eye-related problems. Few diseases, like glaucoma, are silent in their early stages. For this reason, follow-up with an ophthalmologist should be regular,” said the doctor.
The doctor stated that the fact that women have more autoimmune diseases than men can also be considered an aggravating factor, as autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis have a significant impact on vision, potentially leading to blindness in more severe cases.
As they live longer, the age factor brings with it some eye problems that influence the fact that they present more eye issues than the male population. “Cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are problems that mostly occur with aging, being prevalent diseases in older individuals,” warned the doctor.
When young and fertile, most of the female population chooses to have one or more children, and during pregnancy, many hormonal changes occur that can also lead to some vision problems.
“The main eye problems that can occur during pregnancy include dry eyes, blurred vision, development of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and also increased sensitivity of the cornea, which usually decreases in the last months of pregnancy and can return to normal after the baby is born,” said Marília.
The doctor also warned about preeclampsia, which is a specific pregnancy-related hypertension that can occur from the 20th week. Signs are often identified through the eyes in up to 8% of pregnant women, with the patient likely complaining of temporary vision loss, increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or the formation of halos or flashes.
“Another very important factor when it comes to pregnant women is gestational diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage small blood vessels that nourish the retina. For this reason, a diabetic pregnant woman may experience eye problems related to clarity and focus, and in more severe cases, even vision loss,” she warned.
Lawyer Elline Rodrigues stated that she had gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy. “I went to the doctor and had to follow a very strict diet the whole time to avoid numerous problems for myself and the child, including the doctor warned me about the risk of blindness,” she said.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps prevent more serious eye problems, and being consistent and aware of the importance of consulting an ophthalmologist at least once a year also contributes to preventing complications and treating diseases in their early stages.
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