Smoking and Vision

Smoking and vision• Facts about smoking• What is in a cigarette?• Cataracts• Glaucoma• Macular degeneration• Strabismus• Contact lenses• Environmental tobacco smoke

The facts about smoking

• Smokers are 82 per cent more likely

than non smokers to suffer from dry

eye

• Even former smokers have a 22 per

cent higher incidence of dry eye than

non smokers

What is in a cigarette?• As many as 4000

active compounds• Most of them toxic on

acute or long term exposure

• Toxic compounds have negative effects on different organs including the eye

Smoking and cataracts

• Cloudiness in the lens of the eye

• Cataracts are common in people over 60

• Smokers develop cataracts earlier and more severely

Smoking and glaucoma• Disease of optic nerve• Loss of peripheral

vision• There is thought to be

an association between smoking and glaucoma

• Treatment best in early stages

Smoking and AMD• Age-related macular degeneration is

the leading cause of blindness• It is thought that smoking doubles the

risk of late AMD• The risk of late AMD remains higher

until 20 years after a person stops smoking

Smoking and strabismus• Turning of the eye or eyes• Common in children• Treatment can include glasses,

patching or exercises• Smoking during pregnancy can

increase the risk of strabismus in children

Smoking and contact lenses• Increased risk of

contact lens related infection

• Smokers are more likely to suffer from dry eye, increasing the chance of contact lens difficulties

Environmental Tobacco Smoke• Cigarette smoke irritates the film

covering the white part of the eye• Cigarette smoke affects the eyes of

non smokers through second-hand smoke

• Eye irritation is the most common complaint due to environmental tobacco smoke

Regular eye examinations are essential• No referral is required

• Eye tests attract a medicare rebate

• Find your local optometrist at

www.optometry.org.au

Optometrists• Provide a comprehensive visual

examination• Detect and diagnose eye health problems• Prescribe and supply glasses and contact

lenses when required• Diagnose and treat eye coordination and

focussing problems