Gender Differences in Vision Loss

A retrospective observational study published in Ophthalmology Science has explored the prevalence of vision loss and blindness among adults in the US, comparing rates between men and women while adjusting for age and disease categories.

Using data from the AAO’s IRIS (Intelligent Research in Sight) Registry, the researchers analyzed eye examination records from over 14.5 million individuals aged 50 and older. Participants were categorized into different levels of vision loss – mild, moderate, severe, and blindness – and then linked to associated diseases, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment.

Interestingly, the results indicated that women overall had a significantly higher prevalence of vision loss across all categories when compared to men. The study also found that cataracts and AMD were more commonly associated with vision loss in women, whereas men had a higher prevalence of retinal detachment-related vision loss.

While this higher prevalence of vision loss in age-related eye diseases among women could be partly due to increased longevity, the study notes that women are also more likely to seek eye care and have regular ophthalmologic visits, which could lead to earlier and more frequent diagnoses of vision impairment (rather than indicating an absolute biological or epidemiological difference).

Even so, the findings underscore the need for targeted eye health initiatives, particularly for aging women at greater risk of vision impairment. Improving awareness, access to eye care, and early interventions for conditions like AMD and cataracts could help mitigate long-term vision loss in this demographic. In addition, more research is needed to explore potential socioeconomic and behavioral factors that might also be contributing to these gender disparities.