The Impact of Air Pollution on Vision: From Charles Dickens’ London to Modern Day Health Concerns

• In 19th century London, when Charles Dickens wrote that “the fog was heavy and dark”, people were advised to wear special fog glasses while in the smog to avoid “smarting eyes”.
• It can lead to cataracts, glaucoma (the second most common cause of blindness), conjunctivitis, age-related macular degeneration and even the risk of having to wear glasses.
• Studies have long found that air pollution is clearly harmful to health – especially our lungs and cardiovascular systems.

In 19th century London, when Charles Dickens wrote that “the fog was heavy and dark”, people were advised to wear special fog glasses while in the smog to avoid “smarting eyes”. Modern research shows that such recommendations were connected to something: dirty air can destroy our vision, he writes The Washington Post.

It can lead to cataracts, glaucoma (the second most common cause of blindness), conjunctivitis, age-related macular degeneration and even the risk of having to wear glasses. And while research shows that such effects are most striking in heavily polluted Asian cities, studies in North America and Europe have found that even lower doses of air pollution can harm our eyes.

Studies have long found that air pollution is clearly harmful to health – especially our lungs and cardiovascular systems. However, research into how a dirty atmosphere can affect our eyes is just beginning to emerge. “The eye is definitely a neglected organ,” said Lina Mu, an epidemiologist at the University of Buffalo.

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2024-02-04 10:01:04
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