GENDER DISPARITIES IN VISUAL DIFFICULTY AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS

Rapid global aging will lead to an increase of older adults with visual difficulty, especially women. However, little is known what contextual factors drive this gendered distinction across the world.

Using data from the Health & Retirement Study (HRS) international family of studies, we investigate gender disparities in visual difficulty among respondents ages 55-89 in the United States (n=14,452), England (n=5,708), Mexico (n=10,972), and Korea (n=6,649) while adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics.

Reports of visual difficulty across age groups were generally highest in Mexico, followed by Korea, the United States, and England. In the United States, women had a visual difficulty disadvantage that was fully explained by education and socioeconomic indicators. In England, women had a visual difficulty disadvantage that was partially explained by education and socioeconomic indicators. In Mexico, men had a visual difficulty disadvantage that was explained by comorbidities. In Korea, women had a visual difficulty disadvantage that was explained by comorbidities and health behaviors. Conclusions: Our results highlight the heterogeneity of gender disparities in visual difficulty among older adults across the world.