5 Ways Smoking Can Cause Eye Problems

Whether you use cigarettes, cigars or other forms of smoking, you should know that they are not your health’s friend. That’s why anti-tobacco warnings and disclaimers appear everywhere – from cigarette packs to movie posters. We are repeatedly told that smoking is bad for the lungs, teeth and heart. But did you know that smoking can also affect your eyes? It causes eye diseases that eventually lead to loss of vision, besides leading to dry eyes. Read on to learn about the link between smoking and eye health.

How does smoking affect eye health?

Smoking can have harmful effects on eye health. Here are some ways that smoking affects the eyes:

1. Increased risk of cataracts

Smoking increases the chances of developing cataracts, which can lead to blurred vision. Harmful chemicals in tobacco contribute to the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with cataract formation, says senior cataract and refractive surgeon Dr Maraganti Vamsidhar.

2. Risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Smoking is an important risk factor for AMD, which causes progressive degeneration of the macula, the central part of the retina. It causes loss of central focus, affecting activities such as reading and driving. According to 2022 research shared by the World Health Organization, smokers develop AMD 5.5 years earlier than non-smokers.

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3. Dry eye syndrome

Smoking increases the likelihood of developing dry eye syndrome, which occurs when the eyes cannot produce enough tears or the tears dry too quickly. Irritants in tobacco smoke contribute to eye dryness and discomfort, the expert says.

4. Optic nerve damage

The job of the optic nerve is to transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain. Smoking has been linked to damage to the optic nerve leading to glaucoma. Increased intraocular pressure, oxidative stress, and impaired flow are potential mechanisms by which smoking can contribute to optic nerve damage.

5. Weak color vision

Smoking also affects color vision. Smokers may experience a decrease in their ability to perceive and discriminate colors, particularly in the blue-yellow spectrum. According to a 1999 study published in the Graf’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, people who consume more than 20 cigarettes per day may experience color vision defects.

What are the symptoms of eye problems related to smoking?

Some symptoms of smoking-related eye problems include:

• Blurred or distorted vision.
• Dry, burning or itching sensations.
• Increased sensitivity to light.
• Difficult to see in low light.
• Vision loss or dark spots in the visual field.

Is secondhand smoke harmful to eyes?

Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is harmful to the eyes and contributes to various eye-related problems, says Dr Vamsidhar. A 2022 study shared by the World Health Organization suggests that people who are tobacco users are twice as likely to develop age-related macular degeneration from secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke adversely affects eye health in the following ways –

• Irritation and discomfort
• Exacerbation of allergic conjunctivitis
• Exacerbation of pre-existing eye conditions.

Stopping smoking immediately can result in significant health improvements for people. The positive effects begin shortly after quitting and continue to accumulate over time, the expert says. Smoking cessation improves circulation, benefits the eyes and reduces the risk of vascular damage.

If you quit smoking, it will contribute to overall eye health, improve vision and reduce the likelihood of various eye-related problems.