Smoking Affects Your Vision Too

Most smokers are aware that smoking is harmful for their health but a few people know of the fact that smoking can be harmful for the eyes as well. It can cause irreversible damage to your sight which cannot be undone even with the best of diets or treatments. Discussed below are the major impacts cigarette smoking can have on your vision.

• Cataract – Studies show that smokers are at a high risk of developing cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye). The condition is associated with numerous vision problems such as blurry distance vision, sensitivity to glare, loss of contrast and difficulty in seeing colors.
• Speeds age related macular degeneration – Those who smoke are more likely to develop Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) than people who do not. This means your vision will deteriorate faster with age if you smoke as compared to people who do not smoke.
• Night vision – Smokers are more likely to suffer from night vision problems. Several studies have shown that smokers are more likely to have automobile accidents as compared to non-smokers. The risk of accidents increase at night.
• Damages your cells – Studies show that smoking enhances the release of oxidants, chemical byproducts that can damage your cells and at the same time reduce the concentration of antioxidants that prevent damage. As a result, cells around the eyes get damaged in due course of time. As smoking increases your risk of vascular diseases, blood vessels in the eyes also get damaged which worsens your vision problems.

If you wish to maintain the health of your eyes and avoid vision problems, you should make efforts to quit smoking. You can take the help of smoking cessation drugs such as Chantix to make your quit smoking process easier. Consult your doctor to learn more about Chantix and whether the medicine will be suitable for you as a smoking cessation aid.