L-shaped association between oxidative balance score and vision-related functional burden in adults in the United States, NHANES 2005–2008

This study found an L-shaped relationship between OBS and VRFB among U.S. adults aged 20 years and older. This novel finding suggests that maintaining a favorable oxidative balance through modifiable dietary and lifestyle (such as increased physical activity, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption) may help protect functional vision. We also observed a stronger negative association between OBS and VRFB among the unemployed. This study provides new insights into the prevention of functional vision loss, highlighting the importance of not only dietary and lifestyle factors but also considering different subgroups, such as the unemployed. Further longitudinal studies are required to further validate these observations and elucidate the underlying mechanisms, particularly in elucidating causal relationships among variables, controlling for confounding factors, and examining the development of visual function.