Smoking and eye health

[glasses store]

Cigarette smoke enhances oxidants, which are the chemical byproducts in the body that can damage cells, including those in the eyes. There are strong links between several diseases of the eye and smoking. In fact, smokers have double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to those who do not smoke. The millions of people who have AMD, or the signs that appear before the disease is diagnosed, need to be aware that smoking is a major risk for this disease. Smoking can cause severe vision loss, even for passive smokers. This is why eye exams are so important for people that smoke.