It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health. Plenty of warning signs illustrate the adverse effects of smoking on your respiratory system, including your mouth, throat, and lungs. And while those body parts are essential to keep healthy and functioning, your eyes are just as susceptible to the consequences of smoking.
The Negative Effects Smoke Has on Your Eyes
It’s a fact that is often overlooked, but your airways aren’t the only systems being attacked when cigarette smoke enters your body. Smokers also put the health of their eyes and vision at risk. Smoking increases your risk of developing various eye conditions, including:
Cataracts occur when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, leading to blurred vision and eventual vision loss.
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects the part of your eye responsible for central vision and can cause blindness.
Dry eye syndrome happens when your eyes can’t produce tears, leading to discomfort, redness, and even blurred vision.
Short-Term Effects Of Smoking on Eyes
Even short-term exposure to smoke can impact your overall eye health. Any kind of smoke can harm your eyes, but we tend to come into contact with cigarette smoke more often than we smoke from a fire. Even if you’re not a smoker, Secondhand smoke, or chemical smoke, can be just as damaging to your eyes as smoking. One of the most dangerous aspects of smoking is the chemicals it releases into the air. Secondhand smoke can irritate the eyes and cause them to become red, itchy, and watery. It can also exacerbate existing eye conditions such as allergies and conjunctivitis.
Make Healthy Choices for Your Eyes
Smoking is one of the most dangerous things you can do for your overall health, and your eyes aren’t spared from those adverse effects. Smoking increases your risk of developing a range of eye conditions in the short and long term. If you’re a smoker, Choosing to quit is the best thing you can do to protect your eyes, lungs, heart, and every other organ in your body. And if you’re not a smoker, make sure to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and take steps to keep your eyes healthy. Your eyes will thank you for it!
Call the Eye Experts
If you’re having vision problems due to smoking, quitting should be the first step you should take to prevent more damage to your eyes. At Eyes of Lubbock, we care about our patients’ overall health, but we specialize in helping you maintain your vision, and we can find ways to help your eyes continue to stay strong and healthy. Give us a call today to schedule an eye exam to get you on the road to long-lasting eyesight.
