Asthma and hay fever sufferers are 50% more likely to develop cataracts

New research published in The Journal of Dermatology has explored the relationship between allergies and eye disease.

The study of 14,776 participants aged older than 19 found that patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever) had a 50% higher risk of developing cataracts.

The research also examined the connection between atopic dermatitis (eczema), glaucoma and cataracts, but did not find any significant pattern between the conditions.

There are approximately 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, including 1.1 million children and 4.3 million adults.

The authors highlighted the significance of the research.

“Efforts should be made to reduce the risk of ophthalmologic complications when treating patients with allergic diseases,” they conclude.