Smoking and vision loss: understanding the hazards of smoking on your vision

Smoking can have damaging effects on your body and health, and the links between smoking and heart disease or lung cancer are widely known. But did you know that it can also affect your eye health?

When you smoke, you are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals which can damage the blood vessels and the sensitive tissue in your eyes. Smoking can increase your exposure to free radicals, molecules that can speed up the ageing process. This can cause cell degeneration and damage to healthy tissue, increasing the risk of developing eye conditions and vision loss.

How smoking can affect your vision

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

AMD, one of the major causes of vision loss in Australia, is caused by damage to the cells in the macula at the back of your eye, resulting in central vision loss like blurred vision, dark patches, or distortion. Inhaling smoke from cigarettes may lead to a higher chance of developing AMD, as well as increasing the risk of developing AMD earlier than non-smokers. Current smokers can be three times more likely to develop AMD than those who have never smoked.

• Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding in the lens of your eye and symptoms include blurry and cloudy vision, as well as sensitivity to light. The free radicals that you can be exposed to be smoking can cause damage to the proteins in the lens of your eye, which can lead to the formation of cataracts. Smokers can be two times more likely than non-smokers to develop cataracts.

• Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy causes blurred or patchy vision as a complication of diabetes. This is caused by the blood vessels in the retina swelling and bleeding due to high blood sugar levels. Smoking causes an increase in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, which consequently can worsen the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

The benefits of quitting smoking and where to get help

Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of developing an eye condition that can cause vision loss and slow down the damage that smoking causes. Not only does ceasing smoking improve your eye health, but it is also beneficial to your overall health.

Regular eye tests every two to three years are recommended to look after your eye health and stay ahead of any potential vision complications. Book an appointment with your eye care provider to discuss any questions that you may have about your eye health.

If you need help with quitting smoking, Quitline is a confidential information and counselling service, an initiative of Cancer Institute NSW. Call 137848 to speak to a Quitline advisor. Alternatively, visit icanquit.com.au for online services and information.

You may wish to speak with your GP about other options such as medication to help you quit smoking.

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