bTeam In a recent study published in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology, researchers examined the vision health of over 1.7 million elderly Americans. The study revealed a notable correlation between the average temperature in counties and the risk of severe vision problems among adults aged 65 and above. Specifically, individuals living in areas with higher average temperatures exceeding 60 °F faced a significantly elevated risk of severe vision impairment compared to those residing in cooler regions.
The research highlighted a clear trend: Residents in counties with temperatures ranging from 50-54.99°F experienced a 14% increase in the risk of severe vision problems compared to those in counties with temperatures below 50°F (< 10 °C). This risk escalated to 24% for individuals in counties with temperatures between 55-59.99°F and surged to a substantial 44% for those living in areas with average temperatures of 60°F (15.5 °C) or higher. Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, the study's lead author and the director of the University of Toronto's Institute of Life Course and Aging, expressed concern about the potential implications of this link between temperature and vision impairment. She noted that with the expected rise in global temperatures due to climate change, it becomes crucial to monitor whether the prevalence of vision problems among older adults will increase in the future. The study also revealed that this temperature-vision impairment association held true across various demographic factors, including age, sex, income, and education. Even when considering these variables, the relationship between higher county temperatures and severe vision impairment remained robust. Interestingly, the strength of this association differed slightly based on certain demographic factors. For instance, it was more pronounced for individuals aged 65 to 79 compared to those aged 80 or older, as well as for males compared to females. Additionally, White Americans showed a stronger connection between higher temperatures and vision problems compared to Black Americans. Despite the clear link between temperature and vision impairment, the exact mechanisms behind this relationship remain unclear. The researchers proposed several potential causes, including increased exposure to ultraviolet light, air pollution, infections, and the degradation of folic acid with rising temperatures. However, the study's design did not provide definitive insights into how temperature affects vision. The study relied on data from six consecutive waves of the American Community Survey (2012-2017), which surveyed a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 65 and older annually. The sample consisted of 1.7 million older adults living in the contiguous United States who resided in their state of birth. Data on vision impairment were collected through survey questions, and average temperature data were obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In closing, Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson stated that this unexpected finding raised more questions than answers and that future research would explore whether county temperature was also linked to other disabilities among older adults, such as hearing problems and limitations in daily activities.
