Eye doctor warns smokers and vapers against ‘permanent blindness’

It is believed that smokers are four times more likely to lose their eyesight than someone who has never smoked

Contact lens optician, Sujata Paul, has issued a warning to anyone who smokes or vapes, suggesting that the habit could cause long-lasting damage to your eyesight - or even leave you permanently blind. These problems include AMD - or age related macular degeneration - cataracts and glaucoma. As covered in multiple outlets, Paul warned how, “on a short term perspective, tobacco smoke can also cause dry eye syndrome, which leads to irritated and painful eyes" and that “oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in your oxygen levels. “Like anywhere else in the body, additional stress has a negative impact on your health. Over time vaping is meant to increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and even glaucoma. She added: “Glaucoma reduces your vision and can even result in permanent blindness if left untreated," as it is a condition where the optic nerve, which connects to the brain, is damaged and is usually caused by a fluid build up in front of the eye. [caption id="attachment_343298" align="aligncenter" width="699"] Girl smoking (credit: gettyimages) [/caption] In Optometry Today, it states that a US study has also found that e-cigarette users were 34 per cent more likely to experience visual impairment than those who have never vaped. National charity Eye Health UK also issued a warning to the public stating that the relationship between smoking and sight loss is the same as between smoking and lung cancer. The site also stated that smokers are four times more likely to lose their eyesight than someone who has never smoked. Also in Optometry Today, the Chair of Eye Health UK, David Cartwright, emphasised that, “fewer than 10% of smokers realise smoking can affect their eye health, compared to 92% associating smoking with lung cancer and 87% identifying a link between smoking and the risk of heart disease.” This warning comes after the government has recently discussed increasing the age you can buy a cigarette to 21. This is because they plan to make the UK smoke free by 2030 as smoking currently costs the NHS £2.5bn a year, even though ministers are still split over the decision. Related links:

• Smokers age could be raised to 21 in 'radical' crackdown that may include tax hikes
• Smokers in UK hotspot may be offered £400 if they stub out the habit 
• NHS sent urgent message to all people who have ever smoked