Smoking & Eye Problems

Many people know about the dangers of smoking on internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and even liver. Tobacco smoke is directly linked to specific health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. However, smoking affects areas of the body that may surprise the general public. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that there is a direct link between smoking and eye problems and eye diseases.

Cataracts

• The Eyecare Discovery Center cites a Harvard Medical School study that discovered that smoking triples a person's risk of developing eye problems such as cataracts. The National Eye Institute states that cataracts cause clouds to form on the lenses or can create blurry vision. People must undergo surgical procedure to remove cataracts that have formed on their eyes.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that tobacco smoking is a preventable risk factor for eye problems such as AMD, Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Smoking increases the risk for developing AMD by allowing blood vessels to grow on the retina, causing blood and fluid leakage on the eyes and promoting macula damage. To correct AMD, people need treatments such as laser surgery, medication injections and photodynamic therapy.

Dry Eye Syndrome

• The U.S. National Library of Medicine says that people with dry eye syndrome often have fewer tear production. Tobacco smoking damages blood vessels, which leads eye irritation, itchy and scratchy eyes, and burning sensation of the eyes. Doctors treat this smoking-related eye problem with artificial tears or lubricating drops.

Optic Nerve

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology says there is a relationship between smoking and optic nerve damage. A combination of smoking and this eye problem increases a person's risk of blindness, especially if she eats an unhealthy diet, drinks alcohol has thyroid disease, if or optic nerve conditions run in her family. Optic nerve damage cannot be reversed, and the only way a person can stop further damage is to quit smoking.

Diabetic Retinopathy

• The American Optometric Association states that diabetic retinopathy affects people who are diabetic and progressively damages the eye's retina. Smoking indirectly leads to diabetic retinopathy because smoking is a common risk factor for developing diabetes. This condition damages blood vessels in the eyes, causing them to leak blood and fluids. These fluids swell retinal tissue and produces cloudy vision. Eventually, people with diabetic retinopathy go blind if they don't control their blood sugar and quit smoking.