Those who live in areas with high particulate pollution, has been known to be at a higher risk for glaucoma, also called glaucoma. A study from the UK shows. With the intraocular pressure, the air pollution did not make the connection, the researchers suggest, therefore, that dirty air affects other way on the pathogenesis of the disease.
People in neighbourhoods with a high load of fine dust have a to at least six percent higher risk for glaucoma than people from areas with a lower load. A study of the data of 111.370 people in the UK, the results were cross-checked from eye examinations with the air pollution at their places of residence revealed.
Professor Paul Foster from the University College London, said: "Most of the risk factors for glaucoma are beyond our control, such as, for example, the age or familial conditions. It is promising that we have now identified, in addition to the intraocular pressure of a second risk factor for glaucoma that can be altered by life style, treatment, or policy interventions."
Glaucoma is the hämost common cause of für blindness
The intraocular pressure was not associated with air pollution, which is why the researchers assume that the burden from fine dust, for example, by a narrowing of the blood vessels contributes to glaucoma, or the fine particles of dust have a direct toxic effect that damages the nervous system. "We have the indoor air pollution and workplace exposure in our analysis included, but the actual effect could even sein" even bigger;, Foster said.
Glaucoma is the world’s most common cause of blindness and affects worldwide more than 60 million people. The most common known cause is a too high intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve.
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