Despite how adorable those fluffy feline friends of ours are, they may be causing some severe complications with your eyesight. The American Journal of Ophthalmology recently published a study conducted at UCLA that revealed your precious kitten could actually boost your chances of developing the eye disease glaucoma. The eye condition, which is the No. 2 cause of blindness worldwide, develops when fluid cannot drain properly and builds up in the eyeball. Researchers found that people with glaucoma had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to cats and cockroaches, The Washington Post reports. The researchers suggest that cat and cockroach allergens may specifically trigger antibodies targeting the optic nerve. As the UK’s Daily Mail explained, overall these findings suggest that the immune system could play a role in glaucoma.
READ MORE: Your Cat May Be Hurting Your Eyesight (Seriously)
