The Eye - a Neglected Organ in Environmental and Occupational Medicine: An Overview of Known Environmental and Occupational Non-Traumatic Effects on the Eyes

Abstract

The Eye - a Neglected Organ in Environmental and Occupational Medicine: An Overview of Known Environmental and Occupational Non-Traumatic Effects on the EyesThe objective of this study was to give an overview of the known literature data on the influence of environmental and occupational factors on the eye. Sixty-six articles were selected by searching Medline and PubMed databases using the following key words in different combinations: occupational and environmental factors, dry eye syndrome, cataract, retinal vascular changes.Most of the studies dealt with conditions on the eye surface and used eye discomfort syndrome and dry eye syndrome to outline the effects of air pollutants. Some reported increased frequency of lens opacities due to indoor fuel exposure, in particular biofuel, and negative effects of styrene exposure on colour vision. Investigations of retinal vascular changes and retinopathy after chronic exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) and of retinal and choroidal haemodynamics after exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) found that CS2 caused an increase in retinal venous diameters and CO caused an increase in arterial and venous diameters, retinal blood flow velocity, and fundus pulsation amplitude. This article also discusses the influence of light exposure on retinal damage. It shows that very little information is available about the influence of environmental and occupational factors on the eye, and retina and retinal vessels in particular.

Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran

“…In addition, there are now evidence suggesting the association between air pollution and irritation of the eyes, dry eye syndrome, and some of the major blinding. [118120] According to data, the level of air pollution is linked to short-term increases in the number of people visiting the ophthalmological emergency department. [121122]…”

Air pollution and emergency department visits for conjunctivitis: A case-crossover study

“…Higher levels of ambient air pollution have been correlated with adverse effects on the tear film, ocular mucosa, ocular surface, and eyelid margins [30,36,39,[48][49][50]. Several population studies have examined the associations between air pollution levels and ED visits for eye diseases [17, 21,23,24]. To our knowledge, no multi-city studies have investigated this link for cities in North America.…”

“…Studies also have linked ambient air pollution to non-respiratory conditions, such as cardiovascular disease [12,13], appendicitis [14], headaches and migraines [15], skin conditions [16][17][18][19][20], eye discomfort and conjunctivitis [17, [21][22][23]. While air pollution is linked to eye discomforts, conjunctivitis in particular, in several studies of cellular microbiology and tissue pathology, and in individual-level reports [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36], the population burden of these disorders is not well characterized. The majority of the direct costs, as well as the treatment of conjunctivitis, are managed by patients and families through self-care with use of the over-the-counter products [37,38].…”

Al-Qassim industrial area and its role in changing the diseases patterns among workers over the past five years (2011-2015)

“…The Eye disease taken into the account were mainly Visual impairment, refractive error, conjunctivitis, suspected glaucoma , eye infection and cataract ,according to many studies conducted in the field of occupational eye illness showed that these are the most common occupational eye diseases (Table 7). 16,17 Also, a high percentage observed regarding derma and respiratory infection (26.7%) and (50%) respectively. Comparing with (13.3%) for both derma and respiratory infection in the pre-medical examination (Table 7).…”