Everyone knows of the adverse effects that smoking has on your body and overall health. Tobacco products are loaded with chemicals like acetone, nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, which can cause diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. But were you aware that smoking can also damage your eyes and affect your vision?
If you or someone in your household smokes, you could be at risk for developing eye conditions that could lead to vision loss or blindness. This article will discuss various eye conditions that can be caused by smoking, how vaping may affect your eyes, and how to protect your eyesight.
Eye Diseases and Conditions Caused By Smoking
Before we get into the eye diseases and conditions that can be caused by smoking, let’s talk about the different parts of your eye. Understanding the parts of the eye and what they do will help you understand how the the conditions we discuss can affect your vision.
- Retina — The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of your eye. It sends signals to your brain via the optic nerve, creating images you see.
- Lens — The lens of your eye is what allows your eye to focus on objects at various distances.
- Macula — The macula is located in the center of your retina at the back of your eye and processes objects directly in front of you.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is one of the most common eye diseases caused by smoking. AMD affects the macula of your eye.
There are two types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD. AMD always begins as dry AMD and can progress to wet, the more advanced form of the disease, and can rapidly lead to vision loss.
Smoking causes the retinal blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure and increasing the chance of vision loss from both forms of AMD. Research has also suggested that smoking lowers the levels of zeaxanthin and lutein, which are the macular pigments responsible for protecting the macula from UV (ultraviolet) radiation.
Cataracts
The other most common eye disease caused by smoking is cataracts. Cataracts develop when your eye’s lens becomes cloudy, leading to light sensitivity, blurry vision, and trouble driving at night.
When you smoke, it increases the amount of free radicals in your eyes. These free radicals can damage the proteins and lipids in your eye, leading to deposits forming on your eye’s lens. This leads to the development of cataracts.
Increasing the amount of antioxidants in your diet can help fight free radicals. However, when you continue smoking, it can kill off those antioxidants and produce toxins that can lead to cataracts.
Uveitis
The center of your eye is called the uvea. The dangerous chemicals in cigarettes can lead to uveitis, which is the inflammation of the uvea. This can damage the iris (the colored part of your eye) and the retina, leading to glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in your retina. Fluid or blood entering the retina can cause symptoms from blurry vision and problems seeing at night to dark spots and blind spots in your vision, which can lead to total vision loss.
Retinal Detachment
Smoking increases inflammation in your body, including your eyes. When the blood vessels in your eye become inflamed, they become more prone to breaking. Retinal detachment can occur when they break and fluid leaks into the retina.
Dry Eyes
The smoke from your cigarettes can affect the tear film of your eye. When this happens, your eyes do not receive sufficient lubrication, leading to painful, red, dry eyes. While it may seem minor, dry eyes can lead to abrasions and ulcers on your cornea.
Optic Nerve Damage
The optic nerve is how your brain connects to the eye. When the optic nerve is damaged, it can lead to total vision loss. Smoking can increase the likelihood of optic nerve damage, increasing your risk of developing glaucoma.
Is Vaping a Better Choice?
The number of people vaping is expected to reach 55 million in 2024. While vaping is continuously increasing, predominantly among teens and younger adults, smokers are turning to vaping as a smoking secession tool. E-cigarettes can contain as much, if not more, nicotine than cigarettes and can be more difficult to quit.
While more research needs to be done to further understand the long-term effects of vaping, it is known to cause dry eyes and increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. Also, the chemicals that are used when flavoring e-cigarettes can cause eye issues.
Protecting Your Vision
The best choice that you can make to protect your vision is to quit smoking. When you stop smoking, you lower your risk of cataracts and AMD. If you already have AMD, quitting smoking can slow the progression of the disease.
Quitting smoking is within your control. There are many treatment options that can help support you on your journey to quit smoking. Your healthcare professional can help you choose the right treatment option for you.
Trust Your Vision to the Highly Skilled Doctors at New Vision Eye Center
From the increased risk of cataracts to the threat of AMD, it’s evident the toll that smoking takes on our eyes. Quitting smoking is the beginning of the path to better overall health and a safeguard for vision. If you’re experiencing any symptoms that indicate that smoking has affected your vision, schedule an appointment immediately with your vision care professional.
The doctors at New Vision Eye Center are here to provide World-Class Eye Care™ to patients on the Treasure Coast and beyond. We treat various eye conditions, from macular degeneration and glaucoma to floaters and dry eyes. When you trust your vision to our team, you can have peace of mind knowing that our focus is on the care of our patients, specifically efficiency, safety, technology, and the overall quality of the patient experience.
Are you ready to receive the World-Class Eye Care that you deserve? Contact us today for an appointment.