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Resources: Smoking and Eye Health: Effects of Smoking on Vision Health

Several studies have been done which show that smoking can lead to vision problems later in life.

Evidence suggests that the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at least doubles for persons who are long-term smokers.

In one study, researchers found that women who currently smoke or are past smokers had a significantly greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration than women who had never smoked. In the second study, men who smoked one pack or more of cigarettes daily had a two to three-fold increased risk of macular degeneration compared with those who had never smoked.

Women who smoked one pack of cigarettes per day or more had about two and a half times the risk of developing this serious eye disease, macular degeneration, compared with people who never smoked

It was found that even woman and men who had stopped smoking fifteen and twenty years prior to the end of the studies had a greater risk of age-related macular degeneration than those who never smoked.

Cigarette smoking reduces levels of plasma antioxidant, a substance in the blood stream, which protects retinal cells. Smoking causes the protective layer between the retina and blood vessels to erode, resulting in poor circulation, irritation and scarring.

Poor blood flow to the retina and low amounts of antioxidants present in the bloodstream are believed to be contributing factors to age-related macular degeneration.

Smoking is damaging to the blood supply. Smoking exposes the body to free radicals which causes cellular damage and can cause poor circulation of nutrients to the retina and lens. Carotenoid levels and vitamin C blood concentrations are substantially reduced. Smoking oxidizes cholesterol, causing fat to build up in the arteries. This leads to heart attack, stroke, and macular degeneration.

The identification of smoking as a risk factor of AMD is important because smoking is one area in which a person can take control of their vision. Stop. Take Control and Act Now.

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