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Basically, smoking is extremely bad for your health and apart from having effect on your teeth, lungs and heart it also has a terrible effect on your Eyes. You may think that smoking is no way related to your eyes and it cannot effect them at all. But you are wrong.

Smoking enhances the release of Oxidants. Oxidants are chemical byproducts that can damage your cells. Cells around the eye are quite vulnerable, even they get damaged in due course of time.

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. Studies show smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome.

Macular Degeneration causes the deterioration of the retina of the eye. This may cause a gradual loss of vision. In non-smokers this is caused primarily due to age and also diabetes in some cases. But in smokers, it is more prevalent than non-smokers. Smokers are at twice the risk of Macular Degeneration than non-smokers. eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- autumn 2008

AMD is a multifactorial disease with age, systemic health, genetic and environmental risk factors influencing disease progression. The most important pathogenic factors leading up to AMD include oxidative stress, inflammation, and local production of angiogenic factors. A substantial body of literature suggests a role for oxidant injury to the RPE and local inflammation as putative mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AMD. However, to date, little is known about the molecular signal(s) linking oxidation to inflammation in this late-onset disease.

In AMD loss or dysfunction of retinal photoreceptors is the ultimate cause of vision loss. However, the initial pathogenic target of AMD is the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Brusch’s membrane (BrM), and choriochapillaris. Clinical manifestations of AMD may present in early or a late form. In early AMD (commonly known as dry degeneration) (Fig.B), variuos lipic-derived and protein-rich extracellular deposits, known as drusen, accumulate under the RPE. Ultimately, early AMD can progress to the late form of the disease; geographic atrophy (commonly known as advanced dry AMD) (Fig.C) or neovascular AMD (commonly known as wet or exudative AMD) (Fig.D). Geographic atrophy is characterized by death of RPE and photoreceptors (Fig.C).

Figure 1.

Cataract is another problem that comes as a part of smoking side effects. A study observed that in America, smokers are 60% more susceptible to age related cataracts. Posterior Subcapsular Cataract is 2.6 times more common in heavy smokers. In this type of cataract the cataract appears on the inner surface of the lens of the eye.

Glaucoma There is a strong link between smoking and high blood pressure, cataracts and diabetes all of which are risk factors for glaucoma.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Smoking can increase your chances of getting diabetes. It can also make managing diabetes more difficult for those who already have it. Complications of diabetes made worse by smoking include retinopathy, heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, foot problems and many others.

Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry Eye Syndrome is more than twice as likely to impact smokers as non-smokers.

Eye Irritation

Non-smokers often complain of eye irritation when exposed to tobacco smoking.

Tobacco fumes irritate and inflame the conjunctiva, a thin and clear membrane that covers of the white part of the eye (conjunctivitis).

Often causing bloodshot eyes. Does that mean smokers are spared from this irritation of eyes?

Of course not. In fact, they are putting themselves under the barrage of the smoke every time they lit up that cigarette.

Strabismus

Strabismus, more commonly known as ‘crossed eye’, is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly.

In 2010, a study on smoking and pregnancy appeared in The American Journal of Epidemiology.

It is discovered that children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have 38 percent higher risk of getting strabismus as compared to those who eschewed smoking while pregnant.

Smoking 10 or more cigarettes a day was associated with a 90 percent greater risk.

With every cigarette you smoke, you are deteriorating the condition of your eyes. Life is as black as your cigarette ash without eyes. Cigarettes are just not worth blindness. Make your mind and quit smoking today. Its now or never!

Reference:

• smoking.ygoy.com/2007/10/17/smoking-is-bad-for-your-eyes
• improveeyesighthq.com/smoking-and-eye.html
• health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control
• intechopen.com/books