Long term smokers face the risk of suffering eye problems and diseases that threaten their sight. During routine eye exams, your Jacksonville optometrist can detect if you’re developing eye problems due to your smoking habits. If you’re a long term smoker, regular checkups from VAL-Uvision can protect your eye health to prevent vision loss. Here are some ways smoking can harm your vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts are cloudy spots that form in front of the lens of your eyes causing blurred vision. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Smokers double their risk of developing cataracts in their senior years.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration (MD) is an age-related eye disease that damages the retina of your eye, severely impairing the clarity of your vision. This condition is the main cause of vision loss among seniors. Smokers triple their risk of developing MD as compared to non-smokers. Quitting smoking, at any age, can reduce this risk, enabling you to preserve your vision. Through regular optometry care, your eye doctor can detect signs of macular degeneration so you can get early treatment.
Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetes, you’re at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that attacks blood vessels within the retina of your eye and causes permanent loss of vision. Smoking dramatically increases your risk of getting diabetes. The symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can be managed if caught in the early stages by your Jacksonville optometrist.
Dry Eyes
Dry eye is a condition where your eyes aren’t producing enough tears to keep them lubricated. This causes eye strain, burning, itchy eyes, and blurred vision. Tobacco smoke can worsen this condition. If you smoke, you’re more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome. Your eye doctor can recommend medications to minimize eye strain and other dry eye symptoms.
Infant Eye Disease
Pregnant women who smoke endanger their baby’s eye health by putting them at risk of infant eye diseases.
Consult with Your Jacksonville Optometrist
To learn more about smoking and eye health, call 904-721-7700 (Regency Park) or 904-730-2299 (Mandarin) to consult with an optometry specialist from VAL-Uvision.