SynthesisActa ophthalmologica2026
Occupational exposure to metal welding and cataract: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Acta ophthalmologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMetal welding generates ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of cataractogenic wavelengths, and UVR emitted during welding has been associated with cataract formation, but results from prior studies are conflicting.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies addressing associations between occupational metal welding and cataract. The literature search was conducted on November 15, 2023, across seven literature databases. Studies comparing age-adjusted occurrence of cataract among welders and control groups were included. Two reviewers extracted data, which were combined using random-effects meta-analyses.
resultsWe identified nine studies with a total of 5165 welders and 513 026 controls. There was considerable heterogeneity among studies (I
conclusionAn increased risk of cataract among welders was found in studies from lower-middle-income countries, but not in studies from high-income countries. The disparity could reflect differences in occupational safety adherence and study methodology and may also involve effect modification by cumulative solar UVR. Although a causal link between UVR from metal welding and cataract is biologically plausible, epidemiological evidence is still limited. More studies are needed to quantify the exact risk of cataract among welders in various populations.
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