Air pollution affects more than just the heart and lungs; the eyes may also be at risk. Findings from a new study were presented in London at a meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
“Every day, we see patients losing their vision due to conditions like glaucoma and cataracts,” said Dr. Ahmed Alnabihy of the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who led the new study examining the impact of environmental pollution on the eyes.
“These diseases are often labeled ‘age-related,’ implying that aging is the sole cause, but that explanation has always seemed incomplete to me,” he added. “If environmental factors accelerate these conditions, it shifts our perspective and suggests a need for measures to reduce those risks.”
Alnabihy’s team analyzed 41 studies involving millions of people and found that exposure to fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5) is linked to an increased risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.
These microscopic particles are found in smoke, vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
People living in the most polluted areas were 70% more likely to develop glaucoma than those in the least polluted areas. The risk of cataracts was also consistently higher in areas with greater pollution.
Evidence regarding a link to age-related macular degeneration was less consistent, although some studies did support such a connection.
Fine particles are believed to trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. “With prolonged exposure, these factors can damage the optic nerve—a factor in glaucoma—or the lens, which is linked to cataracts,” said Alnabihy.
The researchers stated that these findings underscore the need for stricter air quality standards and pollution reduction measures, including increasing green spaces and reducing traffic in cities.
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