Experts warn pulmonary fibrosis may lead to vision loss for tens of thousands in UK

Tens of thousands of people living with pulmonary fibrosis in the UK face a risk of vision deterioration and possible blindness as the lung disease reduces the amount of oxygen entering the blood, medical experts warned.

More than 70,000 Britons are currently estimated to have pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic condition in which lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, making breathing difficult and lowering blood oxygen levels. "Pulmonary fibrosis is primarily thought of as a lung condition, but many patients don’t realise the eyes can also be impacted," said Dr Stephen Hannan, optometrist and clinical services director at Optical Express. "Reduced oxygen in the blood can impact the retina and optic nerve, which can, over time, cause changes to vision."

Pulmonary fibrosis can follow exposure to asbestos, dust or mould, or arise as a side effect of certain medications, radiation therapy or autoimmune diseases. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent dry or hacking cough, fatigue and weakness, and clubbing of the fingers and toes. The condition is progressive and chronic, and the degree of oxygen impairment can vary between patients.

Clinicians and eye-care professionals say the potential for ocular complications is under-recognised. Reduced oxygenation of the blood, they explained, can interfere with tissues that depend on a steady oxygen supply, including structures at the back of the eye such as the retina and the optic nerve. Changes to vision can develop gradually and may not be immediately linked by patients or some clinicians to an underlying lung condition.

Dr Hannan and others have highlighted the importance of awareness among patients and healthcare providers. They say that recognising visual symptoms promptly and coordinating care between respiratory and eye specialists may be important to identifying and managing eye problems associated with low blood oxygen. Without awareness and timely assessment, experts warned, deterioration could progress to severe vision loss.

Public-health groups and clinicians note that pulmonary fibrosis remains a relatively uncommon but serious disease with a variable course. Treatments for pulmonary fibrosis focus on slowing lung damage, managing symptoms and, in some cases, lung transplantation; the impact on oxygen delivery to the body is central to both respiratory and systemic complications.

The warning follows growing calls within medicine for more integrated care for chronic diseases that can affect multiple organ systems. For people living with pulmonary fibrosis, experts advised vigilance for new or worsening visual changes and prompt consultation with a clinician to determine whether further ophthalmic assessment is needed."