Climate Change Can Speed Up Rate of Blindness, Vision Problems [Study]

Climate change can affect our vision. A new study suggests that those living in warmer regions are more likely to suffer from serious vision impairment.

Climate Change And Vision Impairment

Researchers from Canada studied the prevalence of vision issues among 1.7 million persons in the US's 50 states. They learned that climate change may be accelerating the rate of blindness, according to MailOnline.

In comparison to people who lived in cooler climates, the researchers discovered that people who lived in warmer climates were up to almost 50% more likely to experience substantial vision impairment.

Stronger UV radiation exposure can cause damage to the cornea, lens, and retina, as well as irritation and infection concerns.

In light of global warming, which has caused average world temperatures to climb by two Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) since the late 1800s, the scientists described the findings as "very worrying."

Esme Fuller-Thomson, a gerontologist at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study stated that an increase in world temperatures is anticipated due to climate change. It will be crucial to watch for any future rises in the prevalence of vision impairment in older persons.

Increased sun exposure was reportedly causing more damage to the lens and other parts of the eye, increasing the chance of disorders like cataracts. According to the researchers, hotter temperatures could also make it more likely for people to contract an infectious disease like fungal keratitis, which happens when a fungus infects an area of the eye.

Additionally, more air pollutants are released as a result of warmer weather. According to scientists, this may alter the structure of some eye parts.

Thomson said if further study shows that the correlation between vision impairment and the county's average temperature is causal, then it will be concerning.

Who Are Likely To Suffer From Vision Impairment or Blindness

According to the study, patients were likely to have had cataracts, one of the main causes of blindness in the US, glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve, and conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eye lining brought on by irritation or infection.

Residents of Florida, Texas, and Georgia, with average temperatures above 60F, were in the greatest danger compared to those residing in places below 50F, such as New York and Maine.

A person's likelihood of having visual issues increased by 24% if they resided in a region with an average yearly temperature of 55 to 59.99F, such as Virginia, Kentucky, or California.

People in states with an average temperature of 50 to 54.99F were 14% more likely to struggle. The study was observational, so the researchers cautioned that it couldn't establish that higher temperatures were causing eyesight issues. According to them, more study was needed.

The study was published in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology.

Smart Eye-Care shared some tips to protect your eyes. The outlet suggests using high-quality sunglasses to keep your eyes safe from UV light and hats or umbrellas to shade your eyes. Also, you must pay attention to how much time you spend in the direct glare.

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