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Is There A Visual Gender Gap'?
The discussion of 'women's health' often centers on breast disease, hormone replacement and poorly communicated gynecologic issues. That's unfortunate because women experience many other familiar health maladies disproportionately more than males. For example, more women over age 65 die from heart attacks than do men. This kind of information doesn't get publicized enough. By the way, two-thirds of adults over 40 with diabetic retinopathy are women. I bet you didn't know that either.The same thing applies to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). About 200,000 new cases of AMD are diagnosed yearly in America, females almost double the number of males. Since advanced age is the top risk factor for developing AMD and because women typically live longer than men there are more older females and more of them develop AMD.
Other known AMD risk factors include smoking, obesity, family history, and race.
The early stage of AMD may have no symptoms (or the symptoms may overlap with the development of cataract or other active eye conditions). It takes a dilated retinal evaluation in order for AMD to be diagnosed. Early AMD is followed conservatively since most folks do not progress to the more worrisome intermediate and advanced stages of AMD.
Routine eye exams and at-home testing with a handheld paper chart is all that's necessary for early AMD. Any changes in vision warrant prompt re-examination.
Aggressive consumption of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may delay progression of AMD from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage. When abnormal blood vessels grow and leak underneath the retina the advanced stage of AMD has arrived. Laser treatment and injectable biologic compounds can stop these abnormal vessels and preserve precious reading and driving vision.
Did you know that April has been declared 'Women's Eye Health and Safety Month'? You can learn more by visiting the national nonprofit Prevent Blindness.
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Technorati Tags: women, health, eye health, diabetic retinopathy, AMD
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