'A uniquely direct route that might cause damage': Scientists uncover link between air pollution and eye diseases like glaucoma
A review of 41 studies found that higher exposure to air pollution was linked to greater odds of glaucoma and cataracts, with PM2.5 pollution showing the clearest association.
Scientists have discovered a connection between air pollution and eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts. Glaucoma, affecting 80 million people worldwide, damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. Cataracts, even more common with over 94 million people globally, occur when the eye's lens becomes cloudy. While aging raises the risk of these diseases, a review of 41 studies suggests that exposure to higher levels of air pollution may also increase the risk.
The research, presented in September at a European ophthalmology conference, showed that people with higher PM2.5 exposure (tiny particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller) had 70% higher odds of glaucoma compared to those with low exposure. PM2.5 also showed a moderate association with cataract risk, with an increase in PM2.5 exposure equivalent to the difference between the 25th and 75th percentiles associated with 8% higher odds of cataracts.
The study, which analyzed data from thousands of people in East Asia and the U.K., found less consistent links between air pollution and age-related macular degeneration. Researchers are unsure about the biological mechanisms behind these associations but suggest that fine particulate matter can enter the body and trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, damaging the eye.
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