Delta Journal of Ophthalmology · Published 2026-04-01 · DOI 10.4103/djo.djo_38_25
Air pollution has been ranked as one of the leading causes accounting for global disease burden. The objectives of the current article were to ascertain the different consequences of air pollution on ocular health, identify various ocular surface diseases linked to air pollution, and to propose public health interventions to mitigate the impact of air pollution on ocular health. A wide range of air pollutants have been identified that can impact the ocular health. Their consequences are more common among urban residents, industrial workers, traffic police, street vendors, etc. The evidence from a recent review indicated that the exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) PM2.5 and PM10 correlates with raised ocular surface disease index scores. Acknowledging the wide spectrum of ocular morbidities linked to air pollution, there is an urgent need to implement targeted public health measures to minimize the impact of these pollutants. In conclusion, air pollution acts as a significant but often underestimated threat to ocular health, resulting in a spectrum of ocular diseases. There arises the need to adopt a combination of interventions, including stringent policies, community awareness, occupational protection, and lifestyle modifications.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →