Bhopal: Air pollution doesn’t just blur the vision of a healthy state, it can also blur and affect your vision quite literally. Air pollution has been linked to eye inflammation, specifically by impacting tear cytokines, signalling molecules key to the body’s inflammation response. While air pollution is known to impact lung health, new information shows it also poses risks to eye health as well.
“Air pollution has been linked to dry eye disease, a condition that affects the ocular surface and tear film,” said Dr Aditi Dubey, who is an ophthalmologist and associate professor at Gandhi Medical College (GMC) department of Ophthalmology.
One contributing factor may be the impact of air pollution on meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of the tear film. Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to symptoms such as dryness, irritation, and blurred vision, and even Allergic conjunctivitis, said Dr Dubey.
Eyes can be affected by exposure to air pollution and the environment. This exposure can subsequently lead to several issues, including foreign body sensations, allergens, burning and damage to the tear film.
Occupations like traffic cops, with prolonged exposure to airborne pollutants, can experience these effects more prominently, she added.
Similar to prolonged screen exposure, dryness is another potential consequence of air pollution.
Meibomian glands play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the tear film by secreting meibum, an oily substance that prevents tears from evaporating too rapidly. The toxic gases present in polluted air are a major cause of allergic conjunctivitis.
Research suggests that exposure to air pollution may disrupt the normal function of precorneal tear film , potentially contributing to the development or exacerbation of dry eye disease.
Bhopal: Air pollution doesn’t just blur the vision of a healthy state, it can also blur and affect your vision quite literally. Air pollution has been linked to eye inflammation, specifically by impacting tear cytokines, signalling molecules key to the body’s inflammation response. While air pollution is known to impact lung health, new information shows it also poses risks to eye health as well.
“Air pollution has been linked to dry eye disease, a condition that affects the ocular surface and tear film,” said Dr Aditi Dubey, who is an ophthalmologist and associate professor at Gandhi Medical College (GMC) department of Ophthalmology.
One contributing factor may be the impact of air pollution on meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of the tear film. Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to symptoms such as dryness, irritation, and blurred vision, and even Allergic conjunctivitis, said Dr Dubey.
Eyes can be affected by exposure to air pollution and the environment. This exposure can subsequently lead to several issues, including foreign body sensations, allergens, burning and damage to the tear film.
Occupations like traffic cops, with prolonged exposure to airborne pollutants, can experience these effects more prominently, she added.
Similar to prolonged screen exposure, dryness is another potential consequence of air pollution.
Meibomian glands play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the tear film by secreting meibum, an oily substance that prevents tears from evaporating too rapidly. The toxic gases present in polluted air are a major cause of allergic conjunctivitis.
Research suggests that exposure to air pollution may disrupt the normal function of precorneal tear film , potentially contributing to the development or exacerbation of dry eye disease.
