Air pollution from cars can cause this eye disease

We’re no strangers to the ill effects of air pollution. Fumes arising from cars and vehicles majorly contribute to the overall air pollution, which is increasing at an alarming rate. And now, a recent study indicates that this can have drastic effects on our eye health. That is, air pollution makes us prone to developing a degenerative eye disease that gradually erodes our eyesight.

Called as age-related macular degeneration or AMD, it’s characterised by the progressive destruction of the macula, the part of our retina that gives us a clear, sharp focus. It can particularly target people over 50, and could possibly lead to irreversible vision loss. Otherwise, the progression of the disease differs; it can cause slight problems with vision that lasts for many years, or can worsen rapidly.

A number of factors influence the chances of developing AMD. Age is a major one, but genetics and environment are important contributors too. For instance, 2.1 per cent of Americans over 50 are likely to develop AMD compared to 0.9 per cent of population comprising other races.

The authors of the study that has been published in the British Medical Journal believe that there’s no substantial research on air pollution and the likelihood of AMD. However, previous studies have linked air pollution to increased chances of conjunctivitis and dry eye.

The researchers, who are based in China studied the country’s health data and cross-referenced it with data on air quality. The national health data helped in determining whether people over 50 had AMD during a course of 11 years leading up to 2010. Their residential areas and place of treatment were also studied. As far as air pollution is concerned, two major pollutants were studied, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), according to Gizmodo.

The population under study was divided into four groups, depending on daily levels of exposure to CO and NO2. The authors discovered that those living in areas with high levels had increased chances of developing AMD. “This study indicates the air pollution exposure as a risk factor for AMD,” the authors wrote.

But the study comes with its own cautions. For instance, while a correlation was established between the two, it’s unclear as to what causes what. Also, people’s smoking histories weren’t tracked.

Another thing to debate on, is that compared to other countries, China has higher levels of air pollution. Thus, it’s a possibility that these findings don’t hold relevance for these countries. However, most Asian countries are fraught with poor air quality, including the heavily populated India. Even in UK, which has better air quality, car fumes are known to be the cause of thousands of preventable deaths every year.