Smoking Causes Extensive Eye Damage

Smoking cigarettes has several negative consequences attached with it. People who smoke are not just susceptible to depression, lung cancer and tuberculosis but are more prone to a blind death. Blind Death refers to that stage of damage caused by smoking where the individual is doomed to blindness before dying.

The chemicals in cigarette smoke (around 4000 of them) get into the bloodstream of smokers inducing damage to the eye.
Smoking damages your eyes to a considerable extent.   Here are some experts of studies conducted, which depict the catastrophic effects of smoking.

1) The chemicals in tobacco smoke cause inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the eye), resulting in bloodshot, irritated eyes.    

2) Study results show a direct association between smoking and diabetic retinopathy. In order to prevent further progression of the disease most experts agree that smoking should be avoided.

3) People who smoke cigarettes are at increased risk for developing cataracts, a clouding of the naturally clear lens of the eye

4) Smoking has also been linked to eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. The macular area of the retina has the finest blood supply in the body, serving the retinal receptors that enable us to see minute detail clearly. This blood vessel damage causes a gradual failure of vision.

5) The optic nerve also is susceptible to damage from smoking. People with poor diets who smoke heavily and drink excessive amounts of alcohol run the risk of developing optic nerve-related vision loss (called tobacco-alcohol amblyopia).

6) A condition called Optic neuritis- an epidemic of optic nerve damage was discovered amongst Cuban citizens .  A  study conducted found a strong association between factors such as poor nutrition and smoking.

7) In some patients with thyroid disease (called Graves’ disease), smoking   causes the eyes to become worse, with vision loss possible.

8) For people suffering from a condition called dry eye, smoking can be a cause of significant irritant, worsening the symptoms of scratchiness, stinging or burning of the eyes, and excess tearing .

9) Smoking during pregnancy is also associated with low birth weight and premature birth.

10) Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are five times likely to suffer from the risk of bacterial meningitis in comparison to those children whose mothers did not smoke. Bacterial Meningitis is an infection of the meninges(The meninges are the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

Do not be swayed by all those advertisements of heroes smoking and dancing around with girls, as well as posters which show smoking to be a trade mark of manliness . These are promotional techniques used by industrialists at the cost of your health.You are the one whose life is at stake if you choose to smoke. The producers of cigarrete have nothing to loose.

Be wise and do not remain ignorant. Choose to quit smoking and protect your body from unnecessary causes of damage.