Exposure to polluted air is associated with an increased risk of glaucoma, a debilitating eye condition that can cause blindness, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, show that people in neighborhoods with higher amounts of fine particulate matter pollution were at least six percent more likely to report having glaucoma than those in the least-polluted areas.
"We have found yet another reason why air pollution should be addressed as a public health priority, and that avoiding sources of air pollution could be worthwhile for eye health alongside other health concerns," said lead author, a professor at the University College London (UCL) in the UK. "While we cannot confirm yet that the association is causal, we hope to continue our research to determine whether air pollution does indeed cause glaucoma, and to find out…
