(641) 792-7900 Appointments Home About Us Vision Care & Products Promotions Patients Blog Contact The Impacts of Smoking on Eyesight A smoking habit damages every organ and system in the body, including the eyes. We typically think of lung cancer as the main health risk associated with smoking, and then maybe oral health problems next, but the parts of the body that have direct contact with the smoke aren’t the only ones hurt by it. As eye health professionals, we want to focus on what smoking does to our eyes and vision. Smoking: A Major Risk Factor for Age-Related Eye Diseases When it comes to smoking and eye problems, studies show a significant increase in the risk of developing everything from dry eye to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Smoking and the Risk of Cataracts A smoking habit doubles the risk of cataracts, which are the world’s leading cause of blindness. Cataract symptoms include faded colors, blurred or double vision, light sensitivity, and poor night vision. Thankfully, cataract surgery is both common and safe, so the vision loss that results from cataracts doesn’t have to be permanent. From Smoking to Diabetic Eye Disease Eye problems like diabetic retinopathy obviously have a connection to diabetes. Because smoking increases the likelihood of developing diabetes by up to 40%, it makes the common health complications more likely too, and that includes retinopathy. This sight-threatening condition involves weakened blood vessels in the retina (the lining at the back of the eye that contains the light-sensitive cells we need to see). These blood vessels can leak dark blotches into the field of vision and starve the retina of essential oxygen. The Link Between Smoking and AMD The macula is the part of the retina that gives us our sharpest, most detailed vision, and age-related macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula deteriorates over time, resulting in irreversible blindness. Smokers are three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop AMD, and beyond that, they’re more likely to get it earlier than nonsmokers too. Smoking Doesn’t Only Harm Smokers Smokers themselves may feel the worst of the effects of smoking, but it can hurt nonsmokers too through secondhand smoke, which raises the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. For children, it can lead to asthma attaches, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and even an increased risk of SIDS. Vaping: The Not-So-Safe Alternative Many believe that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, but that’s not really true. Many of the chemicals in e-cigarette fluid have been linked with higher risks of the sight-threatening conditions we’ve discussed. The main point is that there is no healthy way to consume tobacco. Break the Habit; Choose Healthy Vision Many eye disease risk factors are ones we can’t do anything about, but that’s not true with smoking! Someone with a smoking habit can quit to reduce their risk, and someone who doesn’t smoke can continue avoiding tobacco products to keep their risk low. Other great steps we can take to promote healthy eyesight are eating healthy, getting regular exercise, and scheduling regular eye exams! Eye health goes hand-in-hand with overall health! Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original. The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. Posted On: November 24, 2021 @ 7:20pm Posted In: Vision Tips Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn How Eye Color Works Topics News Uncategorized Vision Care Vision Tips Request Appointment You can schedule your next eye exam with us online! Schedule Now (641) 792-7900 From the Blog The Impacts of Smoking on Eyesight November 24, 2021 How Eye Color Works November 10, 2021 Corrective Lenses Through History October 27, 2021 The Relationship Between Eyes and Sleep October 13, 2021 Quick Links Home About Us Vision Care & Products Promotions Patients Blog Contact Contact Us Eye Care Center of Newton 100 N 4th Ave W Newton, IA 50208 Phone: (641) 792-7900 Fax: (641) 792-8663 Email Us Facebook Copyright © 2021 Eye Care Center of Newton. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy / Website by Avelient.