Smoking is the largest preventable cause of diseases and premature deaths around the world. Although, it has been a well-known fact, the most of us prefer to ignore that smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. While it affects the lungs the most, smoking can also have a huge impact on the eyes. Never heard of it? Sadly the direct link between eye problems and smoking is less known. Here is why you should quit smoking if you want to keep your eyes healthy and your vision intact.
Smoking and Cataracts
Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in the world. Several studies have shown that smoking significantly increases the risk of developing cataract as compared with non-smokers. Researchers claim that people who smoke simply double their chance of forming cataracts. The risk keeps on increasing the more you smoke.
Smoking and Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration, popularly known as AMD, is a condition that affects the center of the retina. Your retina is the part of the eye that is responsible for sharp, central vision that you need to perform tasks. Macular degeneration is known to blind spots which may impair the central vision.
Studies have shown that people who smoke have much higher risk of developing AMD as compared with people who don’t smoke. Things get even worse for female smokers as research suggests that female smokers over age 80 years are around 5.5 times more likely to develop AMD than non-smoker women of the same age. Quitting smoking at any age can significantly reduce your risk of developing AMD.
Studies have shown that people who smoke have much higher risk of developing AMD as compared with people who don’t smoke. Things get even worse for female smokers as research suggests that female smokers over age 80 years are around 5.5 times more likely to develop AMD than non-smoker women of the same age. Quitting smoking at any age can significantly reduce your risk of developing AMD.
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