Clean air isn’t just about respiratory health—it’s about visual health, too. That comment comes from an international research team writing in the journal PNAS Nexus. They discovered that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants, specifically nitrogen dioxide and fine particulates is associated with how well children can see without glasses. Reducing exposure to these pollutants could help slow progression of myopia (when distant objects appear blurry). Researchers note that while genetics and lifestyle factors, including screen time on electronic devices play a big role in whether children have myopia, environmental factors such as air pollution also matter. Improving air quality could be a valuable intervention