Sex, gender and blindness: a new framework for equity

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Ophthalmology
• Sociology

Background:

• Four-fifths of visually impaired individuals reside in low- and middle-income nations, with significant burdens in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Approximately two-thirds of the world's blind population are women, indicating a pronounced gender disparity in vision impairment.
• Poorer, older women are most susceptible to life-limiting visual impairment, highlighting intersectional inequalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the gender differences in blindness and visual impairment globally.
• To explore potential explanations for men's advantage in visual sensory function.
• To underscore the need for broader social perspectives beyond biomedical approaches in addressing global blindness inequalities.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article, synthesizing existing literature and data on global blindness and visual impairment.
• Analysis incorporates international eye health strategies and identifies gaps in addressing gender differences.
• Exploration of social determinants of health alongside biomedical factors.

Main Results:

• Existing eye health strategies have largely overlooked gender disparities.
• A biomedical approach alone is insufficient to explain the gendered inequalities in blindness.
• Social perspectives are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of these disparities.

Conclusions:

• Global inequalities in blindness are intrinsically linked to gender.
• Addressing the disproportionate burden of visual impairment on women requires integrating social and gender analyses.
• Future strategies must adopt a holistic approach, incorporating social determinants to effectively combat global blindness.