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Association Between Outdoor Daylight Exposure Duration and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.
Jianqi Chen1, Shaofen Huang2, Xiaohua Zhuo3
1From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (J.C., S.H., X.C., R.X., R.L., X.S., Y.X., J.L., Y.Z., Y.Z.), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|September 20, 2025
Summary
Increased outdoor daylight exposure, especially in summer, is linked to a higher risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) incidence, potentially due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Protective measures against excessive daylight are recommended.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Outdoor daylight exposure is a significant environmental factor increasingly studied in ophthalmology.
- Previous research suggests a possible link between daylight exposure and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), but detailed associations are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between outdoor daylight exposure duration and the incidence and prevalence of POAG.
- To examine the relationship between daylight exposure and POAG-related traits, specifically intraocular pressure (IOP) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness.
Main Methods:
- A combined cross-sectional and cohort study design was employed using UK Biobank data.
- Participant data included 67,558 for POAG incidence and 71,480 for prevalence analyses.
- Cox proportional hazard models and regression analyses were used to assess associations, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Longer annual and summer daylight exposure durations were associated with increased POAG incidence (HRs ~1.08-1.10), particularly in males.
- Elevated outdoor exposure correlated with higher intraocular pressure (IOP) across all seasons (β coefficients ranging from 0.02 to 0.04).
- No significant association was found between daylight exposure and POAG prevalence or GCC thickness.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged daylight exposure, especially during summer, is linked to a higher risk of POAG incidence, likely mediated by increased IOP.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering daylight exposure in glaucoma research and management.
- The study suggests a need for protective strategies against excessive daylight exposure to mitigate POAG risk.
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