Smoking: Terrible for Your Eye Health
Most people know that smoking damages the lungs and heart.
But did you know it's also one of the worst things you can do for your eyes? The connection between smoking and vision loss is stronger than most people realize, and it's something worth understanding if you smoke or live with someone who does.
How Smoking Damages Your Eyes
When you smoke, thousands of toxic chemicals enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your body, including to your eyes. These toxins reduce blood flow to delicate eye tissues, deprive them of oxygen, and speed up the aging process at a cellular level. Your eyes are particularly vulnerable because they have high oxygen needs and rely on tiny blood vessels that are easily damaged. Over time, this damage accumulates and can lead to serious vision problems.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
One of the most serious risks is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in older adults. Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop AMD than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking speeds up the progression from early to advanced stages of the disease.
The macula is the central part of your retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. When it deteriorates, you lose the ability to read, drive, recognize faces, and perform other tasks requiring clear central vision. The encouraging news? Your risk decreases after you quit, though it takes several years to see significant improvement.
Cataracts
Smoking also increases your risk of developing cataracts, the clouding of your eye's natural lens. Smokers develop cataracts earlier and more frequently than non-smokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over your lifetime. Cataracts cause blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to glare, and faded colors. While cataract surgery is generally successful, wouldn't you rather delay or avoid the need for it altogether?
Other Eye Problems
The damage doesn't stop with AMD and cataracts. Smoking also:
- Worsens diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, smoking significantly increases your risk of diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness.
- Aggravates dry eye. Smoke irritates the eyes directly and disrupts the tear film, making dry eye symptoms worse.
- Increases risk of optic nerve damage. Reduced blood flow to the optic nerve can cause permanent vision loss.
- May contribute to thyroid eye disease and other inflammatory conditions affecting the eyes.
Your Vision Is Worth Protecting
Vision loss profoundly impacts quality of life. It affects your independence, safety, ability to work, and enjoyment of everyday activities. The threat of losing your eyesight is immediate and personal in a way that some other smoking-related health risks might not feel.
If you smoke, quitting is the single best thing you can do for your eye health. It's never too late to benefit. Talk to your eye doctor about resources available to help you quit, including quitlines, apps, support groups, and medications that can increase your chances of success. If you need support quitting smoking, ask our office for resources, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to connect with free coaching and support.