The health risks of smoking

Hi Readers,

May 31st was declared “No Tobacco Day” by the WHO.

Smoking is associated with a lot of health risks, including blood circulatory problems, heart problems and cancer just to name a few. Smoking has also been shown to reduce life expectancy.{{more}}

Many are unaware, however, that smoking can cause or worsen many eye diseases.

The two major eye diseases affected by tobacco use are the formation of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Smoking and Cataracts:

Cataracts are formed by the clouding of the lens in the eye. It is part of the normal ageing process, but smoking increases the risk of a specific type of cataract – the nuclear cataract.

The more cigarettes a person smokes, the more likely nuclear cataracts may present early.

It has been suggested that tobacco smoke destroys antioxidants which are largely responsible for the transparency of the lens. There is also an increase in chemicals and enzymes that can lead to oxidative damage in the lens.

Smoking and AMD:

Age-related macula degeneration (AMD) is a condition that usually affects older people. It affects the central portion of the retina (Macula). This leads to the development of blind spots (scotoma) within the central vision, making normal everyday activities like writing, reading and watching TV very difficult. The flow of oxygen to the retina is reduced at the back of the eye; this in turn promotes cellular death in the retina.

Smoking and Diabetes:

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes where the blood vessels at the back of the eye are damaged due to high blood sugar levels. The blood vessels leak and also cause scarring in the retina. Smoking has been shown to accelerate this condition.

Smoking and Thyroid Disease:

Graves disease is a condition that affects the eye. It is caused by an over secretion of thyroid hormones. It can lead to double vision, eye protrusion and loss of vision. There is strong evidence that smoking increases the risk of eye complications four fold. Smoking also depresses the immune system and exacerbates this condition.

Smoking and Optic Nerve Disease:

An association between increased tobacco use and optic neuropathy (optic nerve disease) has been well documented, especially combined with alcohol use. Also atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) at the back of the eye has been shown to complicate matters.

Second Hand Smoke:

What is there to say here? There is enough evidence as to the dangers of second hand or passive smoking. It may be worthy to note that pregnant women who smoke are at a higher risk of producing babies with cast eyes (strabismus) than non-smokers.

If you do smoke, we would like to encourage you to stop now. The good news is that if you stop soon enough, most of these conditions can be reversed or their progression even halted.

So, do the sensible thing readers-STOP SMOKING!

Dr Kenneth Onu is a resident Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Beachmont Eye Institute/Eyes R Us Send questions to: Beachmont@gmail.com
Tel: 784 456-1210