Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. If you smoke, you can develop serious eye conditions that can cause vision loss or blindness – two of the greatest threats to your eyesight are macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
Smoking damages your eyes by introducing toxic chemicals and reducing blood flow, which increases your risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease.
It also worsens dry eye symptoms and can impair vision quality by contributing to blood vessel damage and oxidative stress in the eye tissues.
How Does Smoking Affect Your Eyes?
Smoking can affect the crucial parts of your eyes, including:
- Retina: The delicate, light-sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the eye.
- Lens: The clear part of the eye that allows light to pass to the retina and allows the eye to focus on objects at varying distances.
- Macula: The most sensitive part of the retina, and is the part of the eye that supplies sharp vision.
Smoking causes changes in the eyes that can lead to vision loss. If you smoke:
- You are twice as likely to develop AMD compared to people who don’t smoke.
- You are two or three times more likely to develop cataracts compared with people who don’t smoke.
What Are the Symptoms of Eye Diseases Related to Smoking?
Smoking cigarettes can cause two serious eye diseases: cataracts and AMD. Symptoms of these eye diseases related to smoking include:
Cataracts:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Colours that seem faded
- Sensitivity to light
- Trouble seeing at night
- Double vision
💡 For more information on cataracts, see our full cataracts guide here.
AMD:
- Loss of the central vision you need to see details straight ahead
- Blurry or wavy areas in your vision
- Having a hard time recognising faces
- Needing more light to read or do other tasks in front of you
💡 For more information on AMD, see our full AMD guide here.
It’s important to note that in the early stages of both of these diseases, you may experience no symptoms at all. It’s important to get eye exams on a regular basis to increase the chances of catching and treating these conditions as early as possible. For a comprehensive eye exam, book in with D.I. Blow Optician here.
What About Vaping?
“Vaping has risks that are different from smoking,” said J Kevin McKinney, MD. “Vaping solutions often have much higher nicotine levels than cigarettes. While they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, they do have other chemicals with known and unknown negative effects. We are still learning the type and magnitude of the risks of e-cigarettes”.
Additional Eye Problems Associated with Smoking
Dry Eye
This is when your eyes do not have enough, or the right kind, of tears. Smoking with dry eye will make your eyes more likely to feel scratchy, sting, burn, or be red.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Smokers who also have diabetes risk getting diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the eye are damaged. It causes blurry or distorted vision and possibly blindness. Treatment includes medication, laser, or surgery.
💡 For more information, read our complete guide on diabetic retinopathy here.
Optic Nerve Problems
People who smoke risk having optic nerve problems. The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. Damage to this nerve can lead to blindness. Smoking can increase risk factors, which can lead to glaucoma, a disease that affects the optic nerve.
Uveitis
Smoking can lead to a disease that affects part of the eye called the uvea. This is the middle layer of the eye wall. Uveitis is when this layer becomes irritated. This disease causes a red eye, pain, and vision problems.
Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), also known as Graves’ Eye Disease
This is a disease of the body’s thyroid gland. One of the symptoms of thyroid eye disease, or TED, is bulging eyes. Smokers with TED risk worsening their eye condition with smoking. They can also lose vision.
Smoking and Pregnancy
If you smoke whilst pregnant, your baby is 5x more likely to get bacterial meningitis as a child. This is when tissues around the brain swell. Meningitis can cause eye infections, amongst other vision problems.
Smoking during pregnancy can also increase your risk of giving birth too early. Premature birth can lead to a serious eye problem called retinopathy or prematurity. The baby may have permanent vision loss or blindness.
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Protecting your eyesight means protecting your future. Smoking greatly increases the risk of conditions like AMD, cataracts, and optic nerve damage, often with no early warning signs. The best step you can take to safeguard your vision is to quit smoking and attend regular eye exams. At D.I. Blow Opticians, we’re here to help you maintain healthy eyes for life. Book your comprehensive eye test with us today.
