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Intraocular microplastics and their association with age-related macular degeneration: Evidence from aqueous humor profiling and bioinformatics analysis
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Researchers examined fluid from inside the eye in people with and without age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and found microplastics in every sample. Polystyrene levels were higher in AMD patients than in controls, and higher PVC levels were linked to worse vision within the AMD group. Analysis suggested possible connections to inflammation-related biological pathways.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with potential implications for human health; however, their presence and potential relevance in intraocular environment remain poorly understood. This study characterized MPs in human aqueous humor and evaluated their association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LD-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) were used for qualitative and quantitative analyses. MPs were detected in all samples. Polystyrene (PS) showed the highest detection frequency, whereas polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exhibited the highest concentration. Quantitative analysis demonstrated significantly higher PS concentrations in AMD patients than in controls ( P = 0.035), whereas PVC concentrations were numerically higher but did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P = 0.400). Within the AMD group, higher PVC levels were associated with worse visual acuity (r = 0.609, P = 0.035). No significant associations were observed between MP levels and age or sex. Network pharmacology and enrichment analyses identified potential oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways as major biological processes linked to MPs exposure, with TNF, IL6, IL1B, RELA, and NFE2L2 emerging as key hub genes. These findings demonstrate the presence of MPs in human aqueous humor and provide preliminary evidence of an association between intraocular MPs and AMD. MPs may represent a previously underrecognized environmental factor involved in AMD.
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In the first multi-center study of its kind, researchers detected microplastics inside the vitreous humor (the gel inside the eye) of 49 patients with various eye diseases, with most particles smaller than 50 micrometers. Higher microplastic levels were linked to concerning eye health measures like increased pressure inside the eye, and patients with retinopathy showed especially elevated levels.
Identifying and analyzing the microplastics in human aqueous humor by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
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For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in the aqueous humor, the clear fluid inside the human eye. Five types of plastic were found, with polyethylene and PVC being the most common, and adults had more particles than children or elderly individuals. This discovery adds the eye to the growing list of human organs where microplastics accumulate, raising new questions about potential effects on eye health.
Identification of microplastics in human tear fluid and meibum: Implications for dry eye disease pathogenesis
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For the first time, researchers confirmed the presence of microplastics in human tear fluid and the oily secretions of the eyelid glands (meibum), with polyethylene being the most common type found. Higher polyethylene levels correlated with worse dry eye disease symptoms. In lab and mouse experiments, polyethylene exposure damaged eye surface cells and triggered inflammation, suggesting airborne microplastics may contribute to dry eye disease.
Detection and Characterization of Multiple Microplastics in the Human Retina
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Scientists detected microplastics in all 12 post-mortem human retina samples tested, with concentrations averaging about 49 micrograms per gram of tissue. Common plastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC were found, mostly as tiny fragments and fibers between 20 and 50 micrometers. This is the first study to confirm and measure microplastics in the human eye, raising new questions about whether these particles could affect vision or retinal health over time.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in the ocular environment: Pathways, toxic effects, and future challenges
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This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may enter and affect the human eye, a topic that has received relatively little research attention. Researchers discuss potential exposure pathways, accumulation in ocular tissues, and mechanisms of harm including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death. The study highlights the need for more research on how plastic pollution could impact vision and overall eye health.
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