Out Of Sight

Smokers should add potential eye problems to the list of health outcomes of their habit

Smoking is considered a factor in lung cancer and heart disease but there are implications for the eyes too. Smoking cigarettes can contribute to vision loss, with smokers more likely to suffer from cataracts as well as blindness.

“Greater awareness is needed of the implications of smoking on vision. People are not aware that smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and dry eye syndrome. None of these bodes well for eye health or vision,” says Ruahan Naude, CEO at Dynamic Vision.