In every region of the world, women are more likely to be blind than men.
The reasons for this are varied.
In many families, the health of women is simply not prioritised, particularly if it's a condition that’s not life threatening. For some women, it can be harder to travel for treatment because of family responsibilities. For others, a lack of education means they aren't even aware they can get help.
In some communities there is a sense of shame surrounding any type of disability, including vision impairment. In Pakistan, for example, women are often afraid to be seen as a burden on the family and ashamed about being blind, so may not seek services.
Women more frequently suffer from trachoma than men. In fact, 75 per cent of all people diagnosed with advanced trachoma are women. Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world and it's mostly young children who carry the bug. Because women are more likely to stay at home to care for the children, they are more likely than men to be repeatedly infected.
Even women and girls who do not have eye problems themselves can be disproportionally affected by blindness as they are the ones who most often have to care for blind relatives. Girls often have to leave school completely to care for their adult relatives who have gone blind. In this cycle, poverty passes across generations because girls who are unable to attend school end up less educated, less skilled and poorer as adults.