Eye conditions · March 8, 2026 · 9 min read · 2,200 words
Women's Day: why AMD affects more women
Women account for 65% of AMD cases in France. Why the disparity? For International Women's Day on March 8, 2026, Lumyeye examines an imbalance that was minimized for years: hormones, life expectancy, genetics, and diagnostic bias. We also explain what changes in practical daily life when central vision declines.
Article by Alban Clochet, founder of Lumyeye · Published March 8, 2026
A health disparity ignored for too long
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of severe visual disability in France after age 50. But the figures by gender reveal a striking imbalance: about 65% of people with AMD are women, according to 2024 INSERM data and European registries.
For years, that difference was attributed to women's longer life expectancy, as if AMD were merely a mechanical effect of time. Research over the past fifteen years suggests more. Female biology interacts with the retina, and several hypotheses are gaining support: hormones, genetics, lifestyle factors, and bias in access to care.
This article breaks down the data to clarify what is happening and give affected women and their families clear reference points for prevention, screening, and day-to-day independence once the disease has begun.
2024 statistics
What the numbers say
An estimated 1.5 million people in France live with an early, intermediate, or advanced form of AMD. INSERM projects 2.1 million by 2040 because of population aging.
Several European cohorts, including the Rotterdam Study, Beaver Dam, and ALIENOR in Bordeaux, found the following gender distribution:
- Early and intermediate AMD: 60% women
- Atrophic AMD, advanced dry form: 65% women
- Exudative AMD, wet or neovascular form: 62% women
- Legal blindness caused by AMD: nearly 70% women in France after age 80
Even after data are standardized to remove the effect of age, women remain overrepresented, typically by 15% to 20%. INSERM calls this a “robust gender disparity,” meaning it persists after statistical adjustments.
Scientific hypotheses
Hormones, genetics, and lifestyle: four leads
1. The protective, and then absent, role of estrogen
Estrogen has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the retina. Before menopause, women benefit from natural protection; afterward, it falls abruptly, whereas testosterone declines gradually in men. A Women's Health Initiative study found a correlation between early menopause before age 45 and a 30% higher risk of AMD.
2. Longer life expectancy, but not only that
Women in France live six years longer on average than men, 85.3 years versus 79.3 in 2024. Because AMD is strongly age related, more women mechanically cross its risk thresholds. As noted above, however, age explains only part of the gap.
3. Genetic variants expressed differently
The CFH, or complement factor H, and ARMS2 genes are the two major AMD markers. Several studies have found higher penetrance in women, particularly for ARMS2. In other words, given the same genetic variant, women develop clinical disease more often.
4. Behavioral factors and exposure
Part of the gap may reflect differing exposure to certain factors: low lutein and zeaxanthin, the protective macular pigments that are less abundant in some diets; differences in UV exposure historically associated with outdoor work; and later use of ophthalmic care for social and economic reasons.
Recognizing the first signs
Symptoms: warning signs not to miss
AMD symptoms are not genuinely different in men and women, but diagnosis often comes later for women, particularly because reading difficulties are blamed on presbyopia or fatigue.
- Metamorphopsia: straight lines such as door frames, tiles, or lines of text appear wavy
- Central scotoma: a gray or black spot at the center of vision
- Reduced contrast: faces become harder to recognize, even nearby
- Needing more light to read, with increasingly powerful bulbs
- Difficulty recognizing faces from several feet away
- Less vivid colors, particularly reds and yellows
A simple home test is the Amsler grid, a square grid with a central dot. If lines look distorted or an area is missing, seek care within 48 hours.
Prevention
Prevention by age group
Before 50: lay the groundwork
- Stop smoking completely, as it multiplies AMD risk by two to four
- Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV year-round, including in winter
- Follow a Mediterranean diet with green vegetables, oily fish twice a week, and olive oil
- Have a baseline dilated eye exam at age 45 to 50
Ages 50–65: active monitoring
- Dilated eye exam every two years
- Macular OCT when there is a family history
- Monthly Amsler grid test at home
- Discussion of the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy
Ages 65–75: closer follow-up
- Annual dilated eye exam
- Supplements considered under ophthalmic guidance, such as AREDS 2 formulas with 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E, zinc, and copper
- Immediate adaptation of home lighting with 3000K LEDs and multiple light sources
After 75: support declining vision
- Low-vision assessment in a specialist service such as Quinze-Vingts or Rothschild in Paris, or a university hospital
- Referral to an occupational therapist and orientation-and-mobility specialist
- Assistive tools including lighting, contrast, and AI apps such as Lumyeye
- Annual fall assessment, the risk of hip fracture is four times higher for women with low vision
Testimonial
Marguerite, 73: “I no longer wanted to go out”
“I was diagnosed five years ago: atrophic AMD in both eyes. At first, I managed. I kept reading my large-print novels and sewing. Then last year, I could no longer recognize my granddaughter's face across the table. That was when I understood it had become serious.”
“I no longer wanted to go out. I was afraid of falling and afraid I would not recognize people. My son installed Lumyeye Pro on my iPhone, and we spent two afternoons learning it together. Today I order groceries by voice, have my mail read aloud, and when I go to the market, I ask my iPhone what is in front of me.”
“I did not get my sight back. But I got back the right to go out alone.”
What AI contributes
Lumyeye and everyday independence
AMD affects central vision, the very area used to read, recognize faces, and see detail. These Lumyeye features can change daily life when that vision is impaired:
- Voice reading: for a letter, label, or medication leaflet, the iPhone reads aloud without visual effort
- Scene description: ask “What is in front of me?” and AI describes the room, people, and surroundings
- Object recognition: find keys, a bag, or the remote control
- Color identification: coordinate clothing and sort laundry
- Voice control: call, write a message, or launch Spotify or Maps without touching the screen
For AMD specifically, scene description in bright light compensates for the central scotoma: take a photo and let AI describe it instead of trying to fix your gaze on the area you cannot see.
Learn more on our dedicated page: Lumyeye and AMD.
Unequal access
Care that is equal in theory, but not always in practice
Gender disparities do not end with biology. Several recent studies, notably those published in 2023 by France's High Council for Equality between Women and Men, identify delayed diagnosis among women for several conditions, including cardiovascular, neurological, and eye diseases.
In ophthalmology, this delay appears in several ways:
- Longer average wait before consultation when vision declines, with a greater tendency to blame age, stress, or fatigue
- Greater difficulty accepting intravitreal injections for wet AMD, although anti-VEGF drugs such as aflibercept, ranibizumab, and faricimab are the standard treatment
- Less-recognized family caregiving: older women are more often widowed and more often alone in managing complex medical follow-up
- Later referral to low-vision services
Recognizing these gaps is the first step toward correcting them. March 8 is not only symbolic: it is a chance to remember that equal access to care remains a very concrete struggle.
Frequently asked questions
AMD and women: common questions
Does menopausal hormone therapy protect against AMD?
Studies conflict. Some cohorts show a modest short-term protective effect from properly managed hormone therapy, while others show none. No official recommendation advises hormone therapy solely for eye health. The decision must be individual and discussed with a gynecologist and ophthalmologist.
Which foods truly protect the macula?
The macular pigments lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are present in spinach, kale, broccoli, corn, and eggs. Omega-3 fats in oily fish and canola oil have an anti-inflammatory effect on the retina. The Mediterranean diet remains the benchmark validated by the AREDS 2 study.
Should I take “eye” supplements without medical advice?
No. AREDS 2–type formulas are indicated for intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye. Their benefit has not been shown in people without AMD, and high zinc doses can cause problems. Always ask your ophthalmologist.
Are newer therapies such as anti-VEGF and phototherapy available to older women?
Yes, in principle without an age restriction. In practice, keeping up with monthly injections is difficult in isolation. Ophthalmology day hospitals such as Quinze-Vingts, Rothschild, and regional university hospitals support patients through this process.
Take back control of daily life.
Get 40 free requests with Lumyeye Pro. No credit card. No account to create. Designed for people living with AMD at every stage.
Sources and references
- INSERM, AMD overview, French epidemiological data for 2024.
- ALIENOR Study, Bordeaux, Cohort study of AMD and lifestyle.
- Rotterdam Study and Beaver Dam Eye Study, International cohort data.
- AMD Alliance International, Global AMD statistics, 2024.
- Women's Health Initiative, Estrogen and AMD.
- French Society of Ophthalmology, AMD recommendations, 2023.
- AREDS 2 Research Group, Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2, JAMA, 2013.
This article is informational and does not replace an ophthalmology consultation. Any unusual symptom warrants prompt medical advice.