Smoking is known to have numerous adverse health effects on the body, and kicking the habit can improve most or all of these. As with the lungs, heart, and vascular system, smoking affects vision and makes eye care more difficult. To encourage you to quit, the following are some of the ways you can improve vision health by giving up cigarettes.

A Guide to How Smoking Affects Your Eyes

Increased Risk Factors

Smokers face an increased risk of two types of eye care issues: macular degeneration and cataracts. Nicotine contributes to vascular constriction that restricts blood flow to the eyes and other parts of the body. Moreover, the toxins in cigarette smoke increase free radicals in the blood and lower the antioxidant count, contributing to oxidation and cell damage.

Oxidation also contributes to cataracts by altering the cells of the lens, which is the transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina. By choosing to quit smoking, you reduce free radicals, increase antioxidants, and limit damage to your eyes that causes vision trouble.

Symptoms

Macular degeneration symptoms include blurriness, distortion of straight lines, and a need for more light to see clearly. You may have trouble recognizing faces and adapting to low light situations, such as night driving. 

Cataracts produce similar symptoms, including nighttime vision difficulty and sensitivity to glare. Colors may fade or yellow, and you may see haloes around lamps and other light sources.

Prevention

You can often reduce vision problems—preventing disease or slowing its advance—by kicking the habit. This offers numerous other health benefits, as well. Additionally, you can protect your vision by exercising regularly to promote healthy blood vessels. Maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels and eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and fish. Finally, wear high-quality sunglasses and brimmed hats to block out ultraviolet radiation, which contributes to oxidation.

For professional eye care near you, contact the experienced eye doctor and his team at Brunswick Optical in northeast Ohio. They proudly serve patients in and around Medina County, offering eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and glasses frames. Reach out to them online through their Facebook page, or call (330) 741-3407 to schedule eye care.