How Smoking Harms Your Eye Health

It is a well known fact that smoking causes cardiovascular diseases as well as different types of cancer. However we do not know that it affects our eye too. One can reduce the risk of getting eye diseases by quitting smoking.

Age Related Macular Degeneration

Recent studies have revealed that people who smoke are susceptible to getting AMD compared with people who do not smoke. Age related Macular Degeneration affects retina and causes blind spots in central vision. Age related Macular Degeneration is one of the leading cause of blindness in America. But if a person quits smoking, the risk of this disease is reduced significantly.

Cataracts

This is another problem caused by smoking as it clouds the lens of the eye causing hazy vision. This is caused especially during night time and can totally blind a person. Persons who are above the age of 80 and who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day have double chances of cataract.

Uveitis

This is not a very familiar disease when compared to macular degeneration or cataract. This is one of the serious eye disease which can result in complete blindness. However smokers have a greater risk when compared to normal people.

Risk Associated With Children

Children get affected by second hand smoking. they develop allergic conjunctivitis for inflamed conjunctiva when exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Women who smoke during pregnancy have increased risk of strabismus or crossed Eyes, a leading cause of blindness in children. Quitting smoking is one of the best idea to be away from this kind of diseases.