Did you know women are at greater risk for eye disease and visual impairments?

    Women account for more than two-thirds of the world’s population of blind and visually impaired persons.
    A group of doctors and researchers created the Women’s Eye Health organization and website to provide the knowledge women need to understand their risk, protect their vision, improve their eyesight, and empower their families.
    This website is produced in partnership with the National Eye Health Education Program and Women in Ophthalmology and features content written by women for women.

    Understand Your Risk

    The leading causes of blindness and low vision worldwide are cataracts, uncorrected refractive error, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
    Worldwide more women than men are blind or have low vision due to cataracts and AMD. Dry eye disease and autoimmune diseases are also intrinsically more prevalent in women than in men.
    Because women in the United States, on average, live longer than men, they have a much greater prevalence of common, serious, age-related eye diseases, specifically AMD and glaucoma. Read more about each condition below.

    Protect Your Vision

    It’s been estimated that three-quarters of blindness and vision loss is either preventable or treatable. There are several lifestyle choices you can make to reduce your risk for eye disease.
    Learn More>

    Improve Your Eyesight

    Women may think they’re just too busy with children, jobs, or elder care to get an eye exam or new eyeglasses. But poor vision can wreak havoc on your physical and mental well-being.
    Learn More>

    Empower Your Family

    Did you know many of the same steps you can take to protect your own vision extend to protecting the vision of your loved ones?
    Learn More>

    About Us

    Women’s Eye Health formed in 2001 in response to the troubling reality that more than two-thirds of the world’s population of blind and visually impaired persons are women.
    This website is produced in partnership with the National Eye Health Education Program and Women in Ophthalmology and features content written by women for women.

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    Advocacy

    Vision Researchers Educate Capitol Hill about Chronic Dry Eye

    On February 15th, the WEH.org and Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR) cosponsored a US congressional briefing regarding advances and treatment for chronic dry eye diseases--a growing health problem. WEH.org Executive Committee member Janine Smith (NIH), WEH.org Advisory Board member Kelly Nichols (Ohio State Univ) and James Jorkasky of NAEVER/AEVR spoke to Congressional members and staff. The following is a link to the press release found on the NAEVR/AEVR website. 

    Task Force Formed to Fight Preventable Blindness in Women (PDF)

    In a press release dated November 04, 2003, the Women’s Eye Health.org announced their upcoming symposium “Improving Women’s Eye Health: Strategies to Address the Greater Burden of Blindness Among Women,” to be held at the Harvard Club of Boston on November 7, 2003.

    First International Conference on Women and Blindness (PDF)

    In January 2003, we released two public service announcements asking women to (1) protect their vision and (2) to protect the vision of their family members.

    PSA, Protect Your Vision (PDF)

    PSA, Protect Family’s Vision (PDF)

     

    Women’s Eye Health

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