What Does Smoking Do to Your Eyes?

When you think of smoking, your eyes probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But what if I told you that every puff could be clouding more than just the air; it could be clouding your vision, too? That’s right; those tired eyes might be a silent threat that most people ignore.

Smoking doesn’t just harm your lungs; it targets your eyesight in ways that are subtle, sneaky, and seriously damaging over time. Stick around to learn how smoking can affect your eye health.

How Does Smoking Cause Vision Problems?

Ever wondered why smoke hurts your eyes? Maybe it’s just a sign to warn you about the many more severe vision problems that it can lead to. Humans are able to see things because of the retina at the back of our eyes. Now, the macula, the central part of the retina, is a small part covering 5%. This region plays a crucial role in what we see when driving, reading, doing paperwork, looking into digital devices, etc.

Most vision problems, especially the ones that can eventually cause blindness, happen because of damage to the macula. So, what happens when you smoke? The macular pigments that keep our photoreceptors healthy get damaged by the smoke and create significant problems.

What Really Happens?

There are 6-8 key nutrients that the macula needs to stay healthy and keep your vision sound. Smoking impairs the absorption of most of these nutrients. Thus, it takes you closer to blindness.

Smoking enhances the amount of carboxyhemoglobin in the body. This increase creates a lack of oxygen, also known as hypoxia, for the macula. With no oxygen to power it up, how do you think the macula can help you see? The resulting disease is macular degeneration, which is a primary cause of blindness all over the world.

Also, note that smoking increases your chances of getting diabetes by 30-40%, which means you are more prone to diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes where the blood vessels in the retina are affected. Thus, causing vision loss. If you remember, smoking also causes a lack of oxygen supply to the retina. Together, they speed up the process of vision loss, making you blind much earlier in life. Similarly, smoking can double the risk of having cataracts or glaucoma.

Frequently Asked Questions About Smoking and Healthy Vision

Can smoking cause blurred vision?

Yes, smoking can cause blurred vision. It increases the risk of developing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and so on. These conditions can lead to blurred vision, vision impairment, or other vision complications.

Can smoking cause dry eyes?

Yes, the smoke of the cigarette can cause irritation and itching to your eyes. This can eventually dry your eyes and can lead to dry eye syndrome. The syndrome happens when your eyes aren’t lubricated enough due to a lack of enough tears on the surface.

Can smoking cause eye infections?

Yes. Smoke is one of the primary reasons that can increase your chances of developing an infection called Uveitis. Research suggests this increase is almost 2.2 times. And thus, it's crucial to take care, considering that Uveitis can lead to blindness.

Can smoking cause yellow eyes?

Smoking itself doesn’t directly cause yellow eyes, but it can contribute to conditions that lead to them. Yellowing of the eyes is often a sign of jaundice or liver issues, not smoking alone. However, smoking can irritate the eyes and increase the risk of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the thin membrane covering the eye. Chronic irritation from smoke exposure can cause redness, discomfort, and a dull appearance, which may be mistaken for yellowing, though the root cause differs.

Wrapping It Up

Smoking’s impact on your eyes goes far beyond a little redness; it can quietly damage your vision, accelerate ageing, and increase the risk of serious eye diseases. However, you can get away from all these risks, along with multiple other health problems, if you quit smoking. If you’re already facing any of the issues mentioned above, you can consult an ophthalmologist for more help.