Blindness is a gender issue: globally there are 112 million more women than men living with vision loss, including blindness. Below, we explore the reasons behind this injustice and profile some of the women who are doing something about it. After all, a brighter future for women is a brighter future for the planet.
Many barriers prevent both women and men from accessing eye health services, but these barriers can often be more problematic for women.
These barriers differ around the world and across communities, but a lack of education, difficulty in accessing finances, and an inability to travel mean that women and girls are disproportionately affected by blindness.
Globally there are 112 million more women than men living with vision loss, including blindness. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Around the world, literacy rates among women are lower than they are for men and boys, especially among older women. This means women are often unaware of treatment options and unable to make their own plans to travel and access the eye care they need.
Gender inequity may also mean the healthcare needs of men are prioritized over women. In communities where men are traditionally the breadwinners and women manage domestic tasks, men's needs are often seen as more important.
As well, studies have demonstrated lower rates of cataract surgery for women despite women being more affected by the condition globally.
Cataract surgery rates are lower for women despite more women being affected by the condition
Traditional gender roles also put women more at risk of infectious eye diseases. Take trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness which results in a blinding condition called trachomatous trichiasis, where the eyelashes rub painfully against the eye.
Women make up 70% of people affected by this painful and blinding disease, because they are more exposed to children who are the main carriers of the infection.
70% of people affected by blinding trachomatous trichiasis are women.
Worldwide, women and girls bear an unfair burden when it comes to household chores and caring for relatives with visual impairment. This has a direct impact on opportunities to access education, employment and income, while simultaneously increasing the risk of contracting a blinding disease at home.
Globally, women with disabilities experience a double burden of discrimination: because of their disability and because of their gender. This can lead to social exclusion and abuse, which can impact whether someone is able to access health services and lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Together with our network of partners and supporters, Orbis is working to close the gender blindness gap and help women and girls reach their full potential.
By using the latest technology, we are able to train more healthcare professionals and amplify the reach of our work across the globe.
Here are just a few of the gender-focused eye care projects designed to support these ambitions:
Orbis recognizes the disproportional effect of blindness on women and girls and is committed to alleviating the unequal impact of blindness across communities.
We recently launched a new three-year Global Strategic Plan where we have made it a priority to tackle this injustice head on.
Our Global Strategic Plan has a specific focus on gender
We know that by empowering women to access eye care, it will not only help address gender inequalities but it will also have a broader impact on communities, as well as the wider economy.
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