Smoking has long been known to cause heart disease and lung cancer; however many people don't realize that smoking can lead to vision loss as well. Smokers are four times more likely to lose their vision than their non-smoker counterparts and are more likely to develop eye-related illnesses. Studies show smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome. Luckily, like with most smoking-related illnesses, the negative aspects of these diseases can be reversed or slowed with smoking cessation.
Age Related Macular Degenration (AMD)
Age related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a common disease that occurs in seniors. AMD begins as a loss of central vision which makes it difficult to read and see fine details. Being a smoker makes you twice as likely to develop AMD and at an earlier age and over time, vision loss increases significantly. Of the two types of AMD, "dry" and "wet," dry AMD is the most common. In dry AMD, fatty deposits form under the light-sensing cells in the back of the eye (retina). Vision loss in dry AMD usually gets worse slowly. In wet AMD, tiny blood vessels under the retina leak or break open. This changes vision and causes scar tissue to form. Wet AMD is less common, but more quickly harmful to vision. Symptoms of AMD often appear first with blurriness in the center of your vision, then slowly become more pronounced as the degeneration continues. AMD can eventually lead to complete vision loss and is irreversible.
Fortunately, AMD can be slowed if a smoker chooses to quit before symptoms appear or shortly after. There are no warning signs for AMD, the only way to check is with a thorough eye exam which includes dilation.
Dry Eyes
Regular smokers are twice as likely to develop the dry eye syndrome. The dry eyes makes life extremely uncomfortable and wearing contacts is difficult. In some cases, it's so severe that wearing contacts just isn't the option. Smoking damages the blood vessels in the eye, and this in turn leads to eye irritation, itchy and scratchy eyes, and burning sensation of the eyes.
Cataract
Chain smokers(15 cigarettes/day or more) are three times more likely to develop cataracts as compared to non smokers. Though cataract is very common in old age, the onset of it is accelerated due to heavy smoking.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Smoking directly doubles the chances of developing diabetes. That's not even the sad part. Diabetics are at risk because they are exposed to development of diabetic retinopathy. In this, the tiny blood vessels of the retina in the eye break down, leak or become blocked and this can affect vision over time. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, serious damage to the eye can occur when new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. Most people who smoke agree that smoking is dangerous, but very few of them realize exactly how far the damage goes in the human body, because the damage is not visible instantly. Fortunately, most issues caused by smoking can also be lessened or completely resolved by quitting.
