Regarding sight, do all individuals have the same opportunities? The response might catch you off guard. Both men and women are susceptible to similar eye conditions, like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration associated with aging.
Vision varies from person to person, and gender isn’t always the most significant determinant. Nonetheless, there are certain distinctions in how men and women see. This piece explores some notable disparities.
Genders might experience seeing colours in slightly varied ways. For example, while men might view the colour purple as a single tone, women usually possess a wider range of colours in their visual perception than men. This means they can distinguish various shades of purple, including lavender, plum, and eggplant. Additionally, women might excel more than men in identifying colours at the middle of the light spectrum, like green and blue.
On average, men seem to possess a stronger skill in noticing tiny visual elements. They are also more adept than women in following the movement of objects with their eyes. This skill could be due to specific neurons in the visual cortex that are influenced by the male hormone testosterone. While women do make testosterone, the amount they produce is significantly lower compared to men.
The International Agency to Prevent Blindness states that 55% of the 1.1 billion individuals globally who have trouble seeing are women.
Women might face issues with their vision more often than men due to various factors. For instance, on average, women tend to outlive men. A lot of eye conditions are related to getting older. Since women tend to live longer, they are at a higher risk of developing these conditions as they age.
But in addition to age, other factors may increase the risk of vision loss in females, such as:
Men experience nearly twice as many eye injuries compared to women. The primary cause for this disparity is probably attributed to their higher involvement in contact sports and specific job roles.
Men might also be less inclined than women to use safety glasses during specific tasks, like operating power equipment. However, the positive aspect is that the majority of eye injuries can be avoided by following the necessary steps, including donning safety goggles.
The variances in how men and women see and maintain the health of their eyes can be traced back to several reasons. These reasons might involve both biological differences and the way they live.
For example, the role of hormones in changes to vision can’t be overlooked. Women experience more significant changes in hormone levels compared to men. A sharp drop in oestrogen levels after menopause can heighten the risk of dry eyes and other eye problems.
On the other hand, while men’s testosterone levels might decrease with age, the drop isn’t as dramatic as in women.
No matter the gender, scheduling routine eye check-ups is crucial for everyone to safeguard their eyesight and ensure the best possible eye health. These check-ups are key in spotting eye conditions early on. Identifying an eye condition at its initial stage can help avoid the loss of vision.