Introduction:
The climate changes and environmental factors affecting one’s vision have been the talk of the town for several years. So, does climate change affect ocular health? Yes, it does show a major impact on the ocular health in addition to the overall health. The rainfall patterns, ozone layer depletion, weather, storms, and pollution can cause eye problems in one or many ways. Certain eye problems only worsen in significantly arid weather status.
How Does Climate Change Impact Ocular Health?
The research studies have shown the link between high temperatures and certain eye problems. The climate changes were assumed to be the most adversely affecting ocular surface problems like conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) and dry eye syndrome. Other environmental factors can cause direct or indirect impacts on the eyes and vision. Moreover, global warming is a chain reaction threateningly affecting ocular health.
What Are the Environmental and Climate Factors That Affect Ocular Health?
Various parts of the eye, including the cornea (front part of the eye), sclera, lens, eyelid, and ocular surface, are exposed to the environmental elements of daily life. The following attributes of climate change and environmental impacts can affect ocular health.
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Ultraviolet Radiation: Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can damage the structures of the eye and skin. UV (ultraviolet) rays particularly affect the cornea and the retina (the sensitive back part of the eye). UV radiation increases the risk of developing vision-threatening eye conditions such as cataracts, corneal diseases, and macular degeneration.
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Dust and Toxic: Dust and other toxins like chemicals, nitrogen oxide, and ozone particles can impact the cornea, causing ocular itching and blurry vision. The harmful substances in the air humans breathe can affect ocular health.
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Pollution: Exposure to pollution always results in health problems. Exposure to air pollution can cause several eye problems, such as blurred vision, dry eye syndrome, ocular burns, and excessive tearing.
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Smoke: Smoke from cigarettes can irritate the eye, causing discomfort and vision issues. Smoke from fires contains hazardous sunlike nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide that could access the eye and dissolve into tears, causing irritation, inflammation, and blurry vision.
What Are the Impacts of Climate and Environment Change on Ocular Health?
Climate and environmental changes contribute to the onset and acceleration of certain eye problems. They are listed below.
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Trachoma: Trachoma is an eye infection caused by a bacterium strain called Chlamydia trachomatis. It is considered a leading and preventable cause of total blindness worldwide. The symptoms of trachoma start with mild degrees of eye irritation and itching. This irritation gradually progresses into eye pain and blurry vision. The research studies have shown a link between high temperature, low rainfall, and trachoma infection.
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Vitamin A Deficiency: There can be a significant rise in food insecurity from the climate change crisis, including rainfall patterns. Floods and droughts from predictable rainfall have a great impact on crops. So, the rainfall crisis brings about limited access to adequate, safe, and nutritional food sources for actual growth and development for a healthier life. Vitamin A deficiency is known to be one major concern among them. A deficiency in vitamin A can result in vision impairment and blindness. Night blindness is the most common symptom experienced in people having vitamin A deficiency. Night blindness causes one to have difficulty visualizing things in lower light.
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Cataracts: There is a significant ozone layer loss due to environmental damage. Increased ultraviolet rays beyond the ozone layer could affect one’s eye. So, studies show that global warming is attributable to the onset and development of cataracts. Cataract refers to the clouding of the original clear lens of the eye. Cataracts usually develop gradually over the years. The significant sign of cataracts is blurred vision. So, the person experiences cloudy, unclear, and blurry vision. They might see halos and experience double vision and night vision discrepancies.
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Glaucoma: The studies show a relation between air pollution and severe allergic diseases of the eye. Air pollution is also linked to the incidence of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye problems that result in blindness and vision impairment due to damage in the nerve present in the back portion of the eye called the optic nerve. Glaucoma is of two types: open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. The open-angle is the most common type and remains asymptomatic other than a gradual vision loss. Angle-closure glaucoma is a rare form and a medical emergency. The symptoms include eye pain and nausea with acute vision loss.
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Traffic-allied air pollution and environmental changes can also contribute to age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that typically affects the central vision. This condition leads to significant loss of central vision, but blindness is generally rare. Blurry vision is a marked clinical manifestation of age-related macular degeneration.
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Eye Injuries: Intense weather events and storms can cause increased physical injuries. This also includes eye injuries. The early research studies show that individuals with suspected visual problems and disabilities have vulnerability. Eye injuries generally include scratches, abrasions, punctures, and bruises of any part, like the cornea, lens, and iris.
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Dry Eyes: A dry climate, poor air quality, and strong winds can trigger the symptoms of dry eyes. In that case, one can experience discomfort, redness, photosensitivity, and a burning sensation.
Conclusion:
Climate change can directly cause injury to the eyes. In other ways, it can indirectly impact ocular health by utilizing allergens, poor air quality, UV exposure, dry humidity, and rainfall. Moreover, the storms and hurricanes in places result in the temporary closure of certain medical facilities and essential medical supplies like eyeglasses, eye drops, and other visual aids. Hence, climate change can drastically cause poverty while restricting access to healthcare and medical services. As a result, such disruptions in eye care services can worsen vision impairment in people with eye diseases.
