A Vision of Beauty: Eye Care Tips and Advice for Women Everywhere - Part 1

Our eyes are often called the windows to our souls, but they are also the gateways to experiencing the world around us. Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, the importance of proper eye care is often overlooked, especially when it comes to women’s eye health. In a world where women play multifaceted roles as caregivers, professionals, and nurturers, their vision health can be easily neglected. However, addressing the unique eye care needs of women is crucial not only for their well-being but also for the betterment of their families and communities.

The Bold Maven took a deep dive into the significance of eye care in women’s lives, while exploring the specific challenges they may face and the steps they can take to safeguard their vision. We sat down with a prominent eye care specialists to help us provide the most comprehensive insights to eye health in women.

Common Issues

According to Dr. Janelle Davison of Brilliant Eyes Vision Center, sheds light on just how much pregnancy can impact a woman’s eye health.

“The biggest thing is that a lot of times, if you’re near-sighted, with pregnancy, it can exacerbate your nearsighted prescription to make it worse during pregnancy,” she says. “A lot of times after the pregnancy, during postpartum, people notice that they don’t see as clearly as they did before. It can actually exacerbate astigmatism.”

Because the body is changing and pregnant women tend to take on a lot of fluids, it can also play a role in changes to the structural shape of the eye, which can also influence an existing prescription.

While the hormone changes during pregnancy can have an impact on eye health, so can menopause and perimenopause, a fact backed by board-certified Ophthalmologist, Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo of her own private practice. “Women are at the greatest risk of developing dry eye due to hormone fluctuations,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. When symptoms such as itching, tearing, burning and redness arise as a middle-aged woman, it’s best to consult with a certified Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for a check up.

Dry eyes is also another common issue women face with their eye health, especially nursing mothers. This is why it is vital for nursing mothers to stay hydrated during the production of their milk which causes a natural decline in the self-moisturization, the ability to produce tears and rate of evaporation of the eye.

Routine Eye Exams

Getting a comprehensive routine eye exam can make a huge difference in the overall health of the eyes. Most Optometrists feel a minimum of one visit every 12 months, similar to a routine physical exam, is sufficient to assess any potential risk of disease or discomfort to the eyes. Some Optometrists believe if an individual has no risk factors in their general health, they can schedule routine visits every one to three years.

“The reason for when you come in and see us is because we’re checking for disease,” explains Dr. Davison. “We’re screening you for eye disease and we’re putting you in buckets: low risk, high risk, no risk.” Dr. Davison further explains that these screens are vital to catch any disease early as to eliminate the progression of a disease that may have no cure, as with a host of many eye diseases.

A good comprehensive eye exam should discuss a patient’s medical history with them prior to conducting a thorough and personalized exam.

“Since many diseases are genetic, it’s important for patients to give their doctors a list of medications they take, as well as provide any family medical and eye history to their Optometrist or Ophthalmologist, explains Dr. Hilal-Campo.

Both genetics and ethnicity can play a huge role for what to expect with eye health. Glaucoma and cataracts, sometimes exacerbated by diabetes or a natural Vitamin D deficiency, are two of the most well-known genetic eye diseases that are popularly found in people of color.

Being as upfront and honest with your doctor is imperative to resolve any potential problems for a patient. Dilation of the eyes is also a large factor in a comprehensive exam and the assessment of ocular health. The doctor will proceed to test visual acuity, visual field by confrontation, refraction, intraocular eye pressure, binocularity, peripheral vision and color vision as well.

Prevention Methods

Incorporating healthy habits into your life can make a huge difference in the ability to maintain eye health and prevent disease. Creating routines around a healthy lifestyle including practicing good hygiene, maintaining a healthy diet, decreasing sun exposure without sunglasses and eliminating smoking can keep the eyes looking and feeling healthy.

Dr. Hilal-Campo believes, “prevention is much better than cure. Healthy habits support your overall well-being, which includes our ocular health.”

Starting screenings early in life is also a great preventative measure to ensure eye health in growing children. Patients can start getting eye exams as young as six-months old.

“It’s especially important to bring in babies for an exam if they are premature and had to use oxygen. We need to make sure the retinas develop and premature babies have a higher risk for nearsightedness,” says Dr. Davison.

If there’s a family history of eye disease and/or wearing glasses, it’s imperative that parents get their children to a Pediatric Optometrist or Pediatric Opthamologist at least by the age of three. Ideally, children should at least get their vision checked before starting Pre-K or Kindergarten.

As women, it’s time for us to take charge of our vision health, to be able to pave the way for a brighter, clearer future, ensuring that their vision remains a source of strength and inspiration in all aspects of their lives. Let’s embark on this journey to advocate for better eye care for the visionary women of today and tomorrow.