March 12 is National No Smoking Day
You may associate smoking with lung cancer, respiratory disease and heart problems but did you know it has a major effect on eye health?
Tobacco smoke is composed of as many as 4,000 active compounds, most of which are toxic and potentially damaging to the eyes.
Smokers are up to four times more likely as non-Smokers to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and tend to develop it earlier than non-smokers. AMD can lead to blindness and is the leading cause of vision loss for people over the age of 50 in the western world. It occurs when the delicate cells of the macula – the small, central part of the retina responsible for our central vision - become damaged and stop working. Smoking can impede the protective effects of antioxidants and reduce macular pigment density which is vital for good sight.
Another worrying risk is that smokers are more at risk of developing cataracts - a condition where the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy or misty and can only be treated with surgery. Cigarette smoke may also break down other micronutrients critical to healthy eye tissues.
Dr Susan Blakeney, Clinical Adviser to the College of Optometrists, said: “Spare a thought for your eyes this No Smoking Day and consider the effect that those cigarettes can have on one of your most precious senses. It’s easy to forget the eyes when thinking about the health impact of cigarettes but you cannot replace your eyes and it is just not worth the risk.
However there is some good news – if a patient stops smoking the risk of losing sight decreases over time so the sooner they stop the better for their vision. Studies confirm that people who stopped smoking 20 years ago have a similar risk of developing AMD to non-smokers, with the risk starting to decrease after 10 years of not smoking. The key message here is prevention and I would urge any smokers who are worried about the effect it may be having on their eyes to talk to their optometrist.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH, said:
“Many smokers are unaware that smoking can lead to serious eye diseases including blindness. Losing your sight can be a frightening prospect but smokers can dramatically reduce the risk by stopping smoking. No Smoking Day is the ideal time to join thousands of others in escaping this deadly addiction so lessening your chances not just of dying from cancer or a heart attack, but also of going blind.”
Tagged in Health eye health Smokers