According to the NHS, smoking is one of the leading causes of death and disease in the UK.
Each year around 78,000 people in the UK die from smoking and many more live from debilitating smoking-related diseases.
Smoking increases your risk of more than 50 serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Smoking also increases the risk of immune system problems, including tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Bad habits can also cause serious damage to your eyes and potentially lead to complete vision loss.
The side effects of smoking can be found in your eyes (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm) Read More Related Articles More Related Articles
Sujata Paul, contact lens optician at Lensstore, said, “Smoking is known and proven to have many negative effects on the body, including vision.
“Smoking may increase the risk of serious eye conditions that in some cases can lead to permanent vision loss, including AMD (age-related macular degeneration), cataracts and glaucoma.
“In the short term, cigarette smoke can cause dry eye, which can cause stinging and pain in the eyes.”
Tobacco is known to contain harmful metals that can damage the front of the eye as well as seriously damage the blood vessels that nourish the eye.
This is because nicotine and carbon monoxide can block blood vessels, accelerating a condition called atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis forms plaque in the blood vessels, preventing them from supplying adequate blood to the body’s organs.
When this occurs in the eyes, it can lead to changes in vision.
Read more articles about the dangers of vaping
When asked how e-cigarettes affect the eyes, Sujata warned: “E-cigarettes cause oxidative stress in the eyes. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in oxygen levels.
“As anywhere else in the body, additional stress can negatively affect your health.
“Over time, e-cigarettes increase the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and even glaucoma.
“Glaucoma reduces vision and can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated.”
Smoking can form plaque in the blood vessels behind the eye (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
And vaping is not very good for eye health.
According to a study by the University of California, e-cigarette use can damage your eyes.
People who smoked e-cigarettes were 34% more likely to suffer from visual impairment than those who did not.
This is because e-cigarettes and e-cigarettes, used by about 2.7 million people in the UK, contain harmful chemicals.
Read more articles on how to quit smoking or quitting e-cigarettes
According to Sujata, the best way to break the habit of smoking and reduce your risk of eye damage is:
Set a date Throw away all cigarettes and tobacco products Seek medical help.
“When you start to detect changes in your vision, such as hazy spots in your central vision, need more light to read and straight lines start to look wavy, an eye exam is often the most effective way to detect eye disease early,” she said. explained. .
“The doctor may also give you an injection into the eye to prevent further damage.
“Some patients need it on a regular basis to protect their eyesight.”
More related articles See more related articles
