According to an October 2026 eyesight health report, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, is the most visually overwhelming destination this autumn. As over 20% of adults experience sensory overstimulation daily, a new study released by eyewear brand Overnight Glasses named popular autumn destinations that can harm eyesight through light and air pollution.
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Riyadh is one of the shiniest cities after dark, with an artificial brightness of 20.2K cd/m2, making nighttime hours hard on the eyes.
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The longest days in fall are recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with almost 13 hours of daylight.
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Delhi, India, has the worst air pollution, stressing the eye's cornea with both light and nitrogen dioxide.
The study looked at 40+ of the most popular fall destinations, comparing them by 6 key environmental factors that affect eyesight. The report collected data on natural and artificial brightness at night, average daylight hours during autumn months, as well as an average UV index for the season, as ultraviolet radiation can cause long-term tissue breakdown. The study also reviewed fine-particle air pollution and urban green space coverage, since high pollution and lack of green spaces influence overall eye health.
Here’s a quick look at the world’s most visually overwhelming destinations:
|
City
|
Brightness (mcd/m2)
|
Artificial brightness (cd/m2)
|
Average Daylight Hours (Fall Season)
|
Urban Green Space %
|
UV Index (Fall Season)
|
Air Pollution PM2.5 (US AQI)
|
Visual Overwhelm Score
|
|
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
|
20.40
|
20,200
|
11.61 h/day
|
1.11%
|
9.88
|
69
|
100.0
|
|
Doha, Qatar
|
22.10
|
22,000
|
11.59 h/day
|
N/A
|
8.00
|
55
|
86.1
|
|
Dubai, U.A.E.
|
15.30
|
15,100
|
11.59 h/day
|
2.92%
|
9.53
|
115
|
80.3
|
|
Cairo, Egypt
|
12.00
|
11,900
|
11.47 h/day
|
3.44%
|
7.76
|
69
|
80.2
|
|
Delhi, India
|
8.01
|
7,840
|
11.51 h/day
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29.02%
|
8.46
|
169
|
66.4
|
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
|
8.75
|
8,580
|
12.05 h/day
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32.43%
|
14.18
|
131
|
65.0
|
|
Buenos Aires, Argentina
|
9.75
|
9,580
|
12.93 h/day
|
13.42%
|
8.33
|
62
|
62.9
|
|
Osaka, Japan
|
8.85
|
8,670
|
11.36 h/day
|
5.34%
|
5.92
|
68
|
61.3
|
|
Los Angeles, U.S.
|
10.60
|
10,400
|
11.36 h/day
|
15.51%
|
5.78
|
52
|
61.0
|
|
Las Vegas, U.S.
|
11.90
|
11,800
|
11.30 h/day
|
19.00%
|
5.50
|
24
|
60.3
|
You can find the full report findings by following this link.
1. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Brightness: 20.4 mcd/m2
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Artificial brightness: 20.2K cd/m2
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Average daylight: 11.6 hours during autumn
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Urban green space: 1.1%
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UV index: 9.88 during autumn
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Air pollution, PM2.5: 69
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Visual overwhelm score: 100/100
Riyadh is the fall destination that is the harshest on the eyes, both because of artificial lighting all over the city and the fall weather. The Saudi Arabian capital scores second-highest for after-dark artificial brightness, at 20.2K cd/m2, which is twice as bright as Buenos Aires or Kuala Lumpur. The light pollution is worsened by 11.6 daylight hours throughout autumn and a UV index of 9.88, almost 5 times higher than safe levels.
2. Doha, Qatar
In 2nd place is Doha, where visitors are met with almost 12 hours of daylight, even in autumn. The lack of night hours affects both sleeping habits and eye tension, and both will also be influenced by artificial brightness of 22K, the highest in the top 10. This means that even after sundown, the city is shining brightly, not letting eyes rest.
3. Dubai, UAE
Dubai follows closely, but the city adds high air pollution to the mix. Dubai records PM2.5 levels of 115, over twice as high as in Doha, which can lead to temporary surface irritations as well as increased risks of long-term diseases. The city also has very few green areas to find cover from bright lights and hot sun, with only 2.9% of the territory covered in parks and natural spaces. Similar to Doha, even during the fall months, tourists can expect 11.9 hours of daylight, limiting the rest time for the eyes.
4. Cairo, Egypt
Cairo ranks fourth, as the city experiences both pollution and high UV problems. The ultraviolet indicators reach 7.7 in autumn, over 3 times higher than safe levels, and the UV exposure continues for the whole day, as even in October and November residents get 11.5 hours of daylight.
5. Delhi, India
Delhi rounds out the top 5 world’s most visually overwhelming destinations, with 11.5 hours of daylight and the highest air pollution in the top 10. The PM2.5 measurements average 169, three times higher than in Doha. One major advantage of Delhi is access to green spaces, with 29% of the city covered in parks and gardens.
Gidon Sadovsky, CEO of Overnight Glasses, commented on the study:
“Residents of highly polluted areas are at least 8% more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration than those in cleaner environments, based on British Journal of Ophthalmology studies. Air pollution raises risks of conjunctivitis, dry eye, and other eye conditions through oxidative stress from airborne pollutants. The damage accumulates silently, which is why travellers rarely connect a week in a polluted city with the dry eye or irritation they notice weeks later.”
