Smoking And Eye Damage
February 11, 2009
Around 4000 chemicals are present in the smoke of cigarettes. They enter the smoker’s bloodstream. This can prove damaging for the smoker’s eyes.
The damage caused
A thin membrane covers our eyes. It is called the conjunctiva. Tobacco smoke causes this membrane to be inflamed. It causes irritation in the eyes and makes them bloodshot.
Studies show that smoking is related to cataracts. Smokers are at a higher risk of developing cataracts.
Smoking is believed to be a risk factor for AMD.
The jury is still out on whether or not smoking is linked with diabetic retinopathy. However, this much is clear that smoking causes acceleration of the condition.
It shrinks the blood vessels of the eyes resulting in glaucoma and even damage to the optic nerve.
Smoking and malnutrition have a direct connection with optic neuritis.
In what way smoking adversely affects our eyes?
Cigarette smoke has several toxic chemicals in it. When you smoke, you allow these chemicals to enter your blood. These chemicals are then transported throughout your body by the way of your bloodstream. When in the eyes, they damage the macula, which is at the back of the eye and is also the retina’s most sensitive area.
The macula has small minuscule blood vessels. These break or burst because of the smoke. They cannot be repaired leading to irreparable damage. Instead of bursting, the smoke can result in their slow death. Any of the two ways, the end is complete vision loss.
What can I do if my smoking has damaged my eyes already?
The answer is that you cannot do much once the damage has occurred. The damage is usually irreversible. However, at times Laser treatment can be considered to be an option. This is not such a bright ray of hope because if you keep on smoking after the treatment, the condition will come again.
A therapy called the photodynamic therapy can help to make the loss of vision a little bit less severe. However, most often patients are beyond any help.
What can I do to reduce the damage?
You can give up smoking completely. This will put you at a lesser risk of AMD. However, whatever damage has been already caused is not reversible.
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