THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF SMOKING TO THE EYES

Studies have shown that smoking passively or actively is as bad for the eyes as it is for the rest of the body, and that is because smoking causes changes in the eyes that can lead to vision loss. Below are some eye diseases associated with smoking that pose significant dangers to the eyes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EYE DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING

1: AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)

AMD is a condition that impairs central vision, making it difficult to read, drive, and recognize faces and colors. It can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness. It often has no early symptoms, so an eye exam is the best way to spot this eye disease.

2: CATARACT

It is the gradual thickening and loss of transparency in the eye’s lens; it affects people in their 50s and 60s. A person is twice as likely to develop them if they smoke. The accumulation of heavy metals found in tobacco smoke can increase its chances of formation.

3: DRY EYE SYNDROME

It is a condition where the tear quantity and quality have been compromised either due to damage of the glands secreting the component features of the tears or the blockage of the channels where the tears come from. Cigarette smoking can irritate and cause dry eyes because of the toxins contained in it and even exacerbate dry eyes if a person already has it.

4: GLAUCOMA

The gradual breakdown of cells that make up the optic nerve in the eyes is responsible for sending visual information to the brain. As the nerve cell dies gradually, vision is slowly lost.  However, permanent vision loss occurs when a large amount of nerve is damaged.

5: DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Smokers who also have diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when blood vessels in the eyes are damaged, causing blurry or distorted vision and possibly blindness.

6: UVEITIS

Smokers are also at risk of developing uveitis, which is the irritation of the uvea (the middle layer of the eye walls), causing pain, red eyes, and vision problems.

Stay tuned to our next post as we discuss further smoking and the eyes. Until then, visit TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako, Abuja, for a comprehensive eye examination.

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