To bring awareness to Healthy Aging Month, our staff at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons feel this is the greatest opportunity to elaborate on the harmful effects of smoking and how even second-hand smoke can be detrimental to your eyes and the vision of those you love. As a health-conscious Scottsdale resident, you are probably well aware of the catastrophic health implications related to smoking (heart disease, cancer, etc), but did you know that smoking is the single largest preventable cause of many vision conditions as well?

Smoking contributes to cataracts, macular degeneration, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, even infant eye disease and vision loss. My hope is that you educate yourself during Healthy Aging Month and kick the habit.

How Smoking Harms Your Vision

Cigarette smoke, according to Cancer.gov, has as many as 7,000 active compounds, including tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals, to name a few. These active compounds are extremely toxic, and yet an estimated 42.1 million people 18 years or older in the U.S. are active smokers, according to the CDC.

Smoking has been linked to a variety of health conditions for generations, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, even hip fractures, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and COPD. More then 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking, according to the CDC.

Unfortunately, vision and eye health is not a common discussion when physicians and researchers speak of smoking risks, but in fact smoking has been directly link to two leading causes for vision loss: cataracts and macular degeneration.

Smoke can alter the cells of the lens in the eye through oxidation. Oxidation is essentially the interaction between molecules, such as the interaction between the extremely toxic molecules in cigarette smoke and the molecules within your eyes. Many scientists explain oxidation in terms of a car rusting or a fruit spoiling.

There is also evidence that smoking can lead to an accumulation of heavy metals in the lens of your eyes.

Smoking and Cataracts

While cataracts are common in aging adults, smokers are at a significantly greater risk for contracting cataracts. Smokers double their chance of forming cataracts compared with non-smokers.

Smoking and Macular Degeneration

Smoking can increase the likelihood of worsening macular degeneration by three times compared to the likelihood of non-smokers. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of permanent vision loss.

Smoking and Uveitis

According to AllAboutVision.com, a study found smoking was associated with a 2.2 times greater than normal risk of having uveitis, a eye disease that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

Smoking and Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition that impacts individuals living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Smoking doubles the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, and according to the CDC 5 million Americans over 40 already have this disease.

How To Protect Your Eyes

You can improve your odds and prevent many of these damaging eye diseases by simply kicking the habit. Here in Scottsdale, there are smoking hotlines and smoking support groups to help you quit smoking. Studies have shown that individuals who quit smoking can statistically lower their risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Your eyes can potentially heal from the damage done by smoking.

If you’re a smoker, or have just quit, and are concerned about the health of your eyes due to your history with cigarettes, don’t hesitate to make an appointment today.