Eye Disease with SmokingRead 24,870

Generally, people know that Smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) can cause lung disease, heart disease, cancer, and many other serious health problems. But did you know that smoking can also harm to your eyes? as follows;

1. Dry eye
If you smoking with dry eye symptom will make your eyes more likely to feel scratchy, sting, burn or red eye.

2. Cataracts
Smoking is increased risk for getting cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of your eye’s naturally clear lens. It is like looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract. Cataracts are removed with surgery.

3. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
This disease happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. You will lose your central vision and cannot see fine details. But your peripheral (side) vision stays normal.
Sometimes medicine or surgery can help certain people with AMD from getting worse. But there is no cure. Studies show that smokers and ex-smokers are more likely to get AMD than people who never smoked.

4. Diabetic retinopathy
Smokers who also have diabetes risk getting diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is blood vessels in the eye are damaged. It causes blurry or distorted vision and possibly blindness. 

5. Optic nerve problems
Smoking can increase risk factors which can lead to glaucoma. Glaucoma disease that affects the optic nerve and damage to this nerve can lead to blindness.

6. Uveitis
Smoking can lead to a disease that affects part of the eye called the uvea. This is the middle layer of the eye. Uveitis is this layer becomes inflamed (red and swollen). It causes a red eye, pain and vision problems.

7. Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. One of the symptoms of Graves’ disease is bulging eyes. Smokers who have Graves’ disease risk having their eye condition get worse. They can also lose vision.

8. Smoking during pregnancy can harm to baby’s eyes.
If you smoke while pregnant, your baby is 5 times more likely to get bacterial meningitis as a child. This is when tissues around the brain swell. Meningitis can cause eye infection and other vision problems.
Moreover, smoking during pregnancy increased risk for giving birth too early. Premature birth can lead to a serious eye problem called “retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).” The baby may have permanent vision loss or blindness.


Reference from : American Academy of Ophthalmology