Doctors and health professionals around the globe, have the unanimous decision that smoking causes or links to dozens of harmful and life threatening health conditions. Somehow in a world of "no's" to smoking, cigarettes still appear. Well if you needed even one more reason to kick the habit, we have one for you. Aside from the usual awareness of the dangers of smoking on the cardiovascular, respiratory systems, and cancer, cigarettes also have a negative impact on eye health. Need help with reasons to kick the habit? There are plenty, but here are just a few related to eye health.

Reason #1 - Smoking causes cell damage

Studies show that smoking narrows the blood vessels, reducing the blood supply to the eye and causing cell damage. Smoking declines the quantities of antioxidants, and other protections your eye needs to function properly. The aqueous humor (liquid) and the tissue adjoining the eye and retina deplete due to smoking and create the opportunity for many harmful eye conditions. Once the cells in the eyes are damages they cannot repair themselves and adequately repair the eye.

Reason #2 - Smoking causes retinal damage which leads to vision loss

It is proven that the tar in cigarettes has a great bearing on the retina of your eyes. The tar acts as a toxin in your body and prompts the collection of free radicals in your eyes. These of deposits create a thickening in the retina linked to retinopathy and other eye conditions linked to vision loss. Retinopathy is a generally referred to persistent inflammation and impairment to the retina of the eye. In most cases, patients do not realize the full extent of their disease, until it is irreversible.

Reason #3 - Smoking linked to age-related macular degeneration

Study show that age-related macular degeneration is a crucial reason people should choose not to smoke. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading basis of blindness and visual impairment for people over 60. Unfortunately AMD, can make it tough to read or identify faces. Along with age and family history, smoking greatly increases the chance for age-related macular degeneration.

Reason #4 - Smoking causes dry, irritated eyes and enhances allergy affect on eyes

Smoking similarly raises the risks for cardiovascular diseases, which have a direct impact eye health. Cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, is an aggravation that worsens dry eye. Smokers are twice as likely to have dry eye syndrome than nonsmokers. Dry eye causes a person to not be able produce enough tears to keep the external portion of the eyes lubricated and comfortable.

Reason #5 - Smoking leads to cataracts

About 20% of all new cataract cases in the US have been linked to smoking. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, responsible for producing images. As the lens becomes more opaque, seeing becomes more difficult and often times blindness occurs. A surgical lens transplant is often required to restore eyesight.

Overall, if you want to have a good eye health, please decide not to smoke or choose to kick the habit. Avoiding cigarettes is one of the best decisions you can make in your long-term eye health and overall health. Even choosing to smoke in your twenties has a correlation to risks for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. If not for your own health think about quitting for those around you because even second-hand smoke has a negative effect on vision and eye health.


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