How Climate Change is Damaging Our Eyes—And What We Can Do About It

For five months in 2017, farmworker Alka Kamble suffered from blurred vision in one eye but couldn’t afford to see an ophthalmologist.

"I had no money for treatment, and no time—I worked long hours just to survive," says Kamble, now 55.

Then, she spotted a flyer for a free eye clinic in her village, Jambhali, Maharashtra (India). The doctor diagnosed her with cataracts, likely caused by decades of labor under the scorching sun without sunglasses or shade.

"Now, the heat is so extreme that farmers can barely work two hours in the fields," she adds.

The Link Between Climate Change and Eye Damage

Cataracts—clouding of the eye’s lens—affect 94 million people worldwide, typically due to aging, genetics, or UV exposure. But climate change is making things worse in multiple ways:

1. Extreme Heat

   • Heatwaves disrupt the eye’s natural defenses, leading to protein damage in the lens.

   • A 10-year Spanish study found 370 extra cataract cases per 100,000 people for every 1°C rise in temperature.

   • Younger workers (15-49) in agriculture are now developing cataracts earlier.

2. Increased UV Exposure

   • Hot, dry winds (like in Southern California and Spain) reduce moisture that normally absorbs UV rays.

   • UV radiation directly damages eye cells and generates harmful molecules that accelerate cataracts.

3. More Infections & Allergies

   • Keratitis, pterygium, and conjunctivitis ("pink eye") are rising due to:

     • Longer pollen seasons

     • More mold growth

     • Poor hygiene during droughts (using unsafe water)

   • A 2023 Chinese study found 16% higher conjunctivitis risk on days above 83°F (28.7°C).

4. Malnutrition & Droughts

   • Food shortages lead to vitamin deficiencies, harming the optic nerve.

How to Protect Your Eyes

Experts recommend:
✅ UV-blocking sunglasses (38% more protection than none)
✅ Hats with visors for shade
✅ Hydrogel contact lenses (allow oxygen flow, reduce UV damage)
✅ Vitamin-rich diets (A, C, E, tryptophan)
❌ Avoid smoking & alcohol (worsen eye health)

Systemic Change is Needed

While India’s blindness prevention programs helped Kamble get free cataract surgery, global action is crucial:

• Cut greenhouse gases to slow rising temperatures.

• Reduce ozone-depleting chemicals that increase UV exposure.

"I never thought working in the fields could harm my eyes this badly," Kamble says.

The takeaway? Climate change isn’t just melting glaciers—it’s blurring our vision. Protecting our eyes now could save millions from preventable blindness.

#eye #climatechange #vision