Disparities in Women’s Eye Health around the World Ruth D. Williams, MD Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD Manal Bouhaimed, MBchB, PhD

I HAVE NO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES RELATED TO THIS TOPIC Ruth D. Williams, MD

Women, Blindness and Eye Health A personal awakening

Eye Health Disparities 50 million blind world wide 2/3rds are women 80% of blind and visually impaired people live in developing countries In poor countries, women of all ages utilize health care services less than men Blindness is a global health and economic issue.

But, did you know? Of the 3.4 million Americans who are visually impaired, 2.3 million are women? NEI data

WOMEN MAKE THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DECISIONS IN TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 80 CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IN DRUGSTORES AND ARE LIKELIER THAN MEN TO CHOOSE THE FAMILY'S HEALTH INSURANCE. “WOMEN ARE THE MAIN BROKERS OF HEALTH CARE IN THE UNITED STATES,” SAYS DR. WILLIAM NORCROSS, A FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND FACULTY MEMBER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. ” The Healers: Lady Madonna, by Jeffrey Kluger, Time Magazine, April 15, 2010

Manal Bouhaimed MBchB, PhD Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine Kuwait Health Initiative Board Member Vision 2020 Kuwait

Lynn K. Gordon, MD, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology Associate Dean, Diversity Affairs Chair, Applied Anatomy College David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA