PFOS Is Causing Eye Disease by Killing Retinal Cells

The PFAS chemical PFOS is killing cells in your retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of your eye. It does this through pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of cell death where cells explode and damage everything around them.

What the Study Found

A 2026 study in Environmental Pollution combined population data with lab experiments and found that PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) induces Caspase-8-mediated pyroptosis in retinal cells through GSDMD and GSDME pathways. Both the epidemiological and experimental evidence pointed to the same conclusion: PFOS drives retinal disease.

Retinal damage means vision problems. Pyroptosis isn't gentle. It's inflammatory cell death that creates a chain reaction, killing more cells and worsening the damage over time.

PFOS Is a Legacy Chemical That Won't Go Away

PFOS was used for decades in Scotchgard, firefighting foam, and industrial coatings. It was phased out years ago, but it doesn't break down. It's still in water supplies, soil, and blood samples worldwide. Most people alive today have measurable PFOS in their blood.

What You Can Do

Filter your water. Get regular eye exams. If you live near a military base or airport (where AFFF foam was used), check your local PFAS contamination data. Reduce new PFAS exposure from nonstick cookware and stain-resistant products.

Check out our non-toxic home essentials for PFAS-free alternatives.

Also see non-toxic kitchen essentials for safer alternatives.

Source: Wu LY, Liang LX, Zhou Y, et al. (2026). Environ Pollut.