A new study, led by an international team including scientists from the University of Birmingham, has found that lower exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and PM2.5 was linked to better eyesight in children.
They believe that not only can cleaner air play a vital role in protecting children’s eyesight – it may even improve vision.
The researchers say the results suggest that reducing air pollution could help slow the progression of myopia, or short-sightedness, a condition where distant objects appear blurry and which is rising rapidly among children worldwide, particularly in East Asia.
While genes and lifestyle factors such as screen time are known to drive myopia, the researchers used advanced machine learning techniques to show that environmental factors also play a key role. After accounting for genetics and lifestyle, children living in areas with cleaner air were found to have significantly better vision.
Primary school pupils appeared to benefit most, with younger children showing the greatest improvements in uncorrected visual acuity when exposed to cleaner air. Older students and those with severe myopia were less affected, with their eyesight more strongly shaped by genetic influences.
Professor Zongbo Shi, from the University of Birmingham, who co-supervised this study, commented: ‘While genetics and screen time are long recognised as contributors to childhood myopia, this study is among the first to isolate air pollution as a meaningful and modifiable risk factor.
‘Clean air isn’t just about respiratory health – it’s about visual health too. Our results show that improving air quality could be a valuable strategic intervention to protect children’s eyesight, especially during their most vulnerable developmental years.’
Air pollution can harm eyesight by causing inflammation and stress in the eyes, limiting sunlight exposure essential for healthy development, and triggering chemical changes that distort the eye’s shape.
The team suggest practical measures – such as installing air purifiers in classrooms and closing streets to cars at drop-off and pick-up times – could help protect children’s vision.
Dr Yuqing Dai, also from the University of Birmingham, added: ‘Myopia is on the rise globally, and it can lead to serious eye problems later in life. While we can’t change a child’s genes, we can improve their environment. If we act early – before severe myopia sets in – we can make a real difference.’
The findings add to growing evidence that air pollution poses a significant risk to eye health. Earlier this year, a major UK Biobank study involving more than 115,000 adults found that higher exposure to PM2.5 and NOx was linked to an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and measurable changes in the thickness of retinal layers. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in older adults.
Together, the two studies highlight how air quality impacts vision across the lifespan – from children developing short-sightedness to adults at risk of sight loss later in life. As Professor Shi notes, the message is clear: ‘Improving air quality could be a valuable strategic intervention to protect eyesight at every stage of life.’
Photo: Pavel Danilyuk
Leave a Reply