Smoking affects your body in ways that go beyond your lungs and teeth. If you smoke, schedule regular eye exams to detect signs of smoking-related illnesses early on. Below are three ocular conditions that you’re more likely to develop if you smoke.

Ocular Health Effects of Smoking Tobacco

1. Cataracts

Cataracts cloud the lens of your eye, and smoking can as much as triple your risk for developing them. If smoke gets in your eyes, the free radicals—volatile types of molecules—in the substance can directly damage your lens by affecting proteins and the membrane. Smoking also lowers your antioxidant levels and other compounds that are responsible for removing the damaged proteins from the lens, allowing them to accumulate.

2. Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to damage to your eye’s optic nerve, usually due to a buildup of pressure inside your eye. Your chances of developing it increase by smoking, so regular eye exams can help detect it early and slow the progression. Smoking is thought to raise your risk because it affects how your body makes collagen, leads to lowered oxygen levels in the eye, impedes ocular circulation due to inflammation, and thins out the cornea. All of these alone would raise your risk, but together, they compound it.

3. Macular Degeneration

Smoking also leads to a high risk for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), where damage occurs to the light-sensitive membrane in the retina. Inhaled tobacco products increase toxic compounds in your eye, and the decreased circulation hinders the delivery of key nutrients and oxygen to the eye as well. This allows for the breakdown of the membrane and the protective barriers in the eye.

From eye exams to treatment options, the compassionate team at Comprehensive Eye Care in Washington, MO, will manage the effects of smoking on your ocular health. With over 30 years of experience and active participation in over 100 ongoing research-based trials, their skilled team treats and manages the progression of smoking-related conditions, keeping your vision as clear as possible for as long as possible. Learn more about their ophthalmology services online, and call (636) 390-3999 to schedule an appointment.