Relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and myopia prevalence in adults: analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-Air Pollution Linked Data, 2020.

Background: PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm) causes various health problems. Recent studies suggest that long-term exposure to PM2.5 may have a negative impact on vision. This study examined the effects of long-term exposure to concentrations of PM2.5 exceeding Korean standards on myopia prevalence.

Methods: This study was conducted on adults aged 40-69 years. The PM2.5 concentrations were calculated as the 1-5-year moving averages based on the participants' residential areas. The relationships between the PM2.5 levels, categorized by the annual average concentration standard in Korea, and the prevalence of myopia were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The results were evaluated using the 95% confidence interval.

Results: PM2.5 concentrations averaged over 1-3 years were not significantly associated with the prevalence of myopia. On the other hand, the prevalence of myopia was significantly higher in areas where the 4-5-year moving average PM2.5 levels exceeded the Korean standards. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to PM2.5 may have a detrimental effect on vision.

Conclusions: This study revealed the impact of long-term PM2.5 exposure on the prevalence of myopia, highlighting the importance of managing PM2.5 levels. Nevertheless, further cohort studies focusing on adults and in-depth research into the effects of long-term exposure will be necessary.