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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Aug 2;63(9):17.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.63.9.17.

Ambient Air Pollution and Age-Related Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alyssa Grant  1 , Gareth Leung  1 , Ellen E Freeman  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Ambient Air Pollution and Age-Related Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alyssa Grant et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the burden of age-related eye diseases among adults exposed to higher versus lower levels of ambient air pollutants.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched for relevant articles until September 30, 2021. Inclusion criteria included studies of adults, aged 40+ years, that provided measures of association between the air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide [CO], sulfur dioxide, ozone [O3], particulate matter [PM] less than 2.5 µm in diameter [PM2.5], and PM less than 10 µm in diameter [PM10]) and the age-related eye disease outcomes of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or cataract. Pooled odds ratio (OR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42021250078.

Results: A total of eight studies were included in the review. Consistent evidence for an association was found between PM2.5 and glaucoma, with four of four studies reporting a positive association. The pooled OR for each 10-µg/m3 increase of PM2.5 on glaucoma was 1.18 (95% CI, 0.95-1.47). Consistent evidence was also found for O3 and cataract, with three of three studies reporting an inverse association. Two of two studies reported a null association between PM2.5 and cataract, while one of one studies reported a positive association between PM10 and cataract. One of one studies reported a positive relationship between CO and AMD. Other relationships were less consistent between studies.

Conclusions: Current evidence suggests there may be an association between some air pollutants and cataract, AMD, and glaucoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: A. Grant, None; G. Leung, None; E.E. Freeman, None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses study flow diagram.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Forest plot of studies included in the meta-analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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