Environmental influences on ophthalmic conditions: A scoping review

Abstract

BackgroundEnvironmental factors have been implicated in various eye pathologies. The purpose of this review is to synthesise the published research on environmental effects on eye disease.MethodsFour databases were searched for terms relating to environmental exposures and ophthalmic disease. Titles and abstracts were screened followed by full‐text review. Data was extracted from 118 included studies. Quality assessment was conducted for each study.ResultsAir pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, nitrites, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone and hydrocarbons are associated with ocular conditions ranging from corneal damage to various retinopathies, including central retinal artery occlusion. Certain chemicals and metals, such as cadmium, are associated with increased risk of age‐related macular degeneration. Climate factors, such as sun exposure, have been associated with the development of cataracts. Living in rural areas was associated with various age‐related eye diseases whereas people living in urban settings had higher risk for dry eye disease and uveitis.ConclusionEnvironmental exposures in every domain are associated with various ophthalmic conditions. These findings underscore the importance of continued research on the interplay between the environment and eye health.

An Assessment of the Ocular Toxicity of Two Major Sources of Environmental Exposure

“…The public workshop series hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in November 2023 named the health research priorities for the East Palestine hazardous materials’ release and named eye irritation as a commonly reported symptom [ 32 ]. Sanchez et al found that veterans exposed to burning oil fields also exhibited more signs of dry eye disease, and smoke from other types of burn and fire situations is also a culprit [ 33 , 34 ] The ophthalmology community has long recognized the importance of dry eye disease as a result of eye irritation, and it is a frequent topic among clinicians and in the ophthalmology literature [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. There are multiple FDA-approved prescription drugs and over-the-counter artificial tear formulations designed to treat dry eyes [ 38 , 39 ].…”