Did you know that the link between smoking and sight loss is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer?
Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the surface and internal structure of the eye significantly increasing your risk of conditions such as macular degeneration.
We’ve shared some of the other ways smoking can impact your vision in this article.
- Tobacco smoke causes biological changes in your eyes that can lead to vision loss.
- Cigarettes contain toxins that enter your eyes and increase your risk of sight loss by up to four times.
- Tobacco chemicals damage blood vessels inside your eyes and interfere with the production of tears.
- It causes oxidative stress and damages your retina.
- It reduces the amount of oxygen that can reach your macula.
- It is a key risk factor for age-related macular degeneration.
- It is a major risk factor in the development of cataracts. The risk of nuclear cataracts is 3 times greater in smokers.
- It is a significant risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy.
- It increases your risk of dry eye syndrome.
- It is associated with the onset of thyroid eye disease.
- Smokers have an increased risk of colour vision deficiency and are twice as likely to suffer from Uveitis.
- It increases the risk of contact lens wearers suffering corneal ulcers.
- Smoking in pregnancy increased the risk of your child having a squint.
- Smoking around love ones increases their risk of suffering from sight loss.
For more help to quit, you can visit nhs.uk/better-health.