When Gender and Culture Intersect: Eye Health Disparities in Hispanic Women

April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month

By Diana L. Shechtman O.D., F.A.A.O, Board Member, Latinos en Optometry

April marks Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, a reminder that women account for nearly two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment in the United States.¹ Factors contribute to this increased risk include inherited predisposition, autoimmune conditions, pregnancy, longer life expectancy, and disparities in access to care. In addition, many women prioritize family and work responsibilities over their own health, often delaying preventive care. Cultural and social factors can further compound these vulnerabilities among Hispanic women.

Because women generally live longer than men, they have a greater lifetime risk of developing age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, women are more susceptible to conditions such as dry eye disease and ocular complications associated with hormonal changes and autoimmune disorders.

Research from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study found that Latino adults experience higher rates of certain eye diseases compared to non-Hispanic whites.² For example, diabetic retinopathy disproportionately affects Latino communities and is often diagnosed at more advanced stages due to delayed detection. For Hispanic women, gender-related risk is layered on top of a higher prevalence of such systemic conditions, threatening further vision loss.

Moreover, data from the National Eye Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to highlight disparities in preventive care utilization and disease burden within Hispanic communities.^2,3 Language barriers, delayed diagnosis of chronic conditions, and limited access to healthcare all contribute to preventable vision loss with Hispanic women often facing an even greater burden. In many households, Hispanic women serve as primary caregivers and health decision-makers. As a result, they may postpone their own preventive care while prioritizing the health of family members.

Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month provides an opportunity to remind the community of the importance of annual comprehensive eye examinations, especially among the most vulnerable patients. We can emphasize that conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often progress silently before symptoms appear. Early diagnosis is essential for prompt and proper eyecare.  By proactively engaging Hispanic women through prevention, education, and access to care, we can help reduce avoidable vision loss in a population that carries disproportionate risk.

Footnotes

1. Prevent Blindness. Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. https://preventblindness.org/womens-eye-health-and-safety-month/

2. National Eye Institute. U.S. Latinos Have High Rates of Eye Disease and Visual Impairment (Los Angeles Latino Eye Study findings). https://www.nei.nih.gov/research-and-training/research-news/us-latinos-have-high-rates-eye-disease-and-visual-impairment

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hispanic/Latino Vision Health; National Diabetes Statistics Report. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/visionhealth/resources/features/hispanic-latino-vision-health.html  |  https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html