Smoking Can Cause Blindness
Smoking and its effects on vision
While we all are aware that smoking is injurious to health, can cause cancer, respiratory ailments, did you know that smoking is closely linked to damaging your eyesight? Studies have shown that smoking increases several eye problems that can eventually lead to loss of vision.
Here are some of the eye-related diseases that get worse with smoking:
Graves' disease: This is a disease associated with the thyroid gland in the body. This disease in combination with smoking makes the eye-condition worse and one can even turn blind. Bulging of eyes is known to be a symptom of Graves' disease.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Damage to the retina of the eye due to diabetes is Diabetic Retinopathy. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina tissue in the back of the eye. Smokers with a history of diabetes are more prone to this condition. It causes distorted vision, blurriness.
Uveitis: Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea. Uvea is the middle layer of the eye and smoking can lead to Uveitis, disease that affects the uvea. This disease causes a red eye, pain and vision problems.
Cataract: Smoking increases the chances of getting a cataract. A cataract is clouding of the normally clear lens of your eyes. It causes blurry vision and makes colors look dull, sensitive to light.
Dry eye: When your eyes do not produce sufficient or the right type of tears, it is called dry eye. Smoking will cause additional trouble if you've dry eye like sting, itch or burn.
Pregnant? Don't think about smoking when you're pregnant as it can harm your baby’s eyes. Your baby is 5 times more likely to get bacterial meningitis as a child if you smoke during your pregnancy. Meningitis is known to cause eye infections and other vision problems.
