Amid rising air pollution posing a serious health threat across India particularly the national capital, a study has warned that exposure to increased levels of air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM10), significantly raises the risk of eye infections.
The study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus reveals that clinical visits for ocular surface diseases (OCD), such as conjunctivitis, more than doubled when PM10 concentrations were elevated.
Thus, highlighting the growing impact of climate change-related air pollution on eye health.
This finding is especially relevant for areas like Delhi, India, where severe air pollution poses a serious health threat.
Ocular surface disease (OSD) is a group of eye conditions that affect the surface of the eye, including the cornea, conjunctiva, and eyelids.
“The World Health Organization has declared climate change to be “the single biggest health threat facing humanity,” said lead author Jennifer Patnaik, Assistant Professor of epidemiology and ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
“Yet there are limited studies on the impact of climate change-related air pollution on ocular health,” Patnaik added.
In the study, the team examined the link between ocular surface irritation and allergy-related daily outpatient office visits with daily ambient particular matter (PM) levels in the Denver Metropolitan area.
About 144,313 ocular surface irritation and allergy visits to ophthalmic clinics were recorded.
The daily visit counts were 2.2 times higher than average when PM10 concentrations were 110. The clinic visit rate ratio increased as daily concentrations increased, the researchers said. Notably, conjunctivitis represented one-third of all the visits.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology, is among the first to look into how climate change may affect the eyes.
According to ophthalmologists, pollution lowers eyes’ natural defences, making them more prone to infections like conjunctivitis or styes. The bacteria and toxins in the air stick to the surface of your eyes, increasing the chances of infections, especially if one touches his/her face often.
Patnaik said the health risks of air pollution and climate change span a wide range of outcomes including infectious disease, weather-related morbidity, and a variety of lung, kidney, and cardiovascular maladies. Continuous exposure to air pollution can also lead to several eye conditions, including dry eye, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and more.
The smog and pollution are also causing other health concerns, including respiratory distress, and heightened risks of cardiovascular complications.
