It is no surprise that smoking is responsible for a numerous amount of diseases and over 480,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Age –related macular degeneration, cataracts, optic nerve damage and often blindness are just some of the effects smoking can cause. With 4,000 different toxic chemicals a single cigarette contains, the average smoker dies 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. If that does not convince you to put the cigarette down, maybe the facts below will.
• Female Smokers over 80 years old are 5.5 times more likely to develop AMD that non-smokers the same age
• Children exposed to tobacco smoke have a 20% greater chance of developing allergic conjunctivitis
• Smokers are four times more likely to go blind in old age
• Studies suggest people who live with a smoker double their risk of developing AMD
• Cataracts is the leading cause of vision loss
• People who smoke double their risk of developing cataracts
• Everyday more than 3,200 people 18 or younger smoke their first cigarette
• Women who smoke while they are pregnant have higher risks of giving premature birth, and risk of the baby developing crossed eyed.
• Smokers are 2.2 times more likely than non-smokers to develop Uveitis ( inflammation of the eye’s middle layer)
• Smoking harms eye tissue and has been associated with 25% of age-related macular degeneration
• The more you smoke the higher risk of severe vision loss and possible blindness
If these facts aren’t enough to convince you to put the cigarette down, perhaps the following disease caused by tobacco abuse will.
Dry Eye: Tobacco is known to worsen and cause dry eye syndrome. Second-hand smoke also may affect people, but smokers are twice as likely to suffer from dry eyes.
Uveitis: This eye disease is inflammation of the eye’s middle layer which harms the eyes structure including the iris and retina. Smokers are 2.2 times more likely to develop Uveitis.
Diabetic Retinopathy:Can cause loss of vision and damaged blood vessels.Smokers double their risks of diabetes.
Smoking and Infant Eye Disease: Smoking while pregnant can cause many complications during child birth, from strabismus or crossed eyes, to premature birth.Strabismus leads to a blinding disease.
