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How does smoking affect your vision?

Smoking causes cancer. Smoking causes many other health issues ranging from heart diseases to lung diseases. Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death in the world. Each year, tobacco kills nearly 8 million people. A significant percentage of this happens to be passive smokers. And we are not surprised by any of this. But how many of us are aware of the direct effect smoking tobacco has on our eye health and vision?

Each cigarette carries toxins that reach your bloodstream as you smoke. These toxins travel all over the body, including your eyes and brain areas that process vision. This largely contributes to the development of several eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, uveitis, dry eye syndrome, and optic nerve problems.

Let’s take a look at how smoking causes these eye diseases.

Age-related macular degeneration

The macula is the central part of the retina that enables our central vision and helps us focus on things. The age-related deterioration of the macula can cause a condition called macular degeneration. When the macula is damaged, our central vision is compromised, and it becomes difficult to see fine details. If left untreated, AMD can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness.

Smoking triples the chances of developing AMD by causing your retinal blood vessels to constrict and increasing blood pressure. Studies also show that smoking lowers the levels of macular pigments that protect the macula.

Cataracts

Smoking can double the chances of you developing cataracts. A cataract is the clouding of the lens and one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults. Smoking increases the count of free radicals in your eyes, and these cause deposit build-up in the lens, which contributes to the development of cataracts.

Diabetic retinopathy

Smoking increases your risk of getting diabetes and can complicate the condition if you already have it. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the many complications smoking can cause. This condition damages the blood flow to the retina and can cause partial or complete loss of vision.

Glaucoma

Smoking is strongly linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cataracts, all of which contribute to the development of glaucoma. Smoking increases the intraocular pressure (pressure inside your eye) and damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma may lead to complete blindness if not diagnosed and treated at the earliest.

Uveitis

Uveitis is the inflammation in the uvea or the central layer of our eyes. Studies suggest that smoking more than doubles the risk of developing this eye disease that can lead to blindness. The inflammation can harm other parts of the eye including the retina and iris. This can lead to several eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

Dry eye syndrome

Smoking and passive smoking can equally contribute to the development and worsening of dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes are a common condition where the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep the eyes lubricated. The toxins in tobacco can irritate and worsen this condition.

Optic nerve problems

Smoking can indirectly cause damage to the optic nerve in many ways. Smoking increases the intraocular pressure and limits the oxygen supply required to keep the eye tissues healthy. All of this can damage the optic nerve that connects our eyes to our brain and can eventually lead to blindness.

If you are a heavy smoker who wants to prioritize your eyesight, quitting smoking would be a great start. Adopting a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet, regular workouts, and well- managed lifestyle diseases is another important step for a youthful pair of eyes. If there is anything smoking can do for us, it is to help us get old faster. There are many ways to help yourself out of this toxic addiction. Talk to your doctor and do a comprehensive eye examination to see if smoking has damaged your eyesight.

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