Gender bias leaves Indian women and girls with poorer eye‑care

Women and girls in India consistently receive poorer eye‑care than men, a disparity that shows up from childhood tumours to older‑age treatment delays. Families often question the value of sight‑saving treatment for girls, worrying that visual impairment will affect marriage prospects or appearance. A little girl with retinoblastoma was told her eye had to be removed to save her life, but her father refused, saying a disfigured face would ruin her chances of marriage. Rohit Khanna, a community ophthalmologist and network director at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, recounted the episode and noted the immediate resistance. Retinoblastoma is a fast‑growing eye cancer that appears in early childhood and can be fatal without prompt surgery. Older women also face delayed or limited access to effective eye care, often receiving treatment only after the condition has worsened. The pattern reflects a broader gender bias where men in households prioritize their own or male members’ vision over that of women. Such bias leaves many girls and women with preventable blindness or severe visual impairment. Addressing the gap requires changing household attitudes and ensuring that health policies target gender‑specific barriers.

Context

In many Indian families, health decisions are traditionally made by male heads, which can sideline women’s needs. When vision loss is seen as a threat to marriageability, it reduces the perceived worth of treatment for girls. Improving awareness and equitable access can reduce avoidable blindness among women.