Smoking Leads to Vision Problems
Did you know that smoking contributes to the risk of developing cataracts? What’s more, tobacco smoke can also aggravate dry eyes. In many studies around the world, smoking is associated not only with lung health but also with our vision. Nicotine from tobacco can constrict the blood vessels, build up plaque in the bloodstream and weaken the arteries. As a result, it can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. In addition, this can lead to retina damage and result in vision loss. But this can be avoided. For smokers, this is good news. If you quit smoking, the risk of heart and eye disease will lower. Eventually, as time goes by without having a smoke, the health risks will be about the same as that of nonsmokers. Of course, smoking is not the only risk factor for vision problems. To have a better chance against eye disease, you also need to know your health history. What may seem like an unrelated health condition can also pose cause effects on your vision. For instance, diabetes and high blood pressure can decrease the flow of blood to your eyes, leading to poor vision. Other unrelated health conditions like cancer, aneurysms and multiple sclerosis contribute to eye diseases. Never ignore eye problems. If you feel your eyes are getting red, swollen or itchy and eyedrops, cold compresses and other medication don’t provide the needed relief, it’s time you get in touch with your eye doctor. The same is also true if symptoms such as eye pain or sensitivity to light persist. If, from time to time, you are seeing dark floating spots, experiencing flashes of light or can't see normally, you need to get regular eye exams. Still, even if you’re not experiencing these vision issues, you should endeavor to have your eyes checked regularly. For people aged 18 to 60 years old, eye exams should be conducted at least once in every two years. For people over the age of 60, wear contact lenses, have a family history of eye disease or are suffering from health risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes, the ideal frequency for getting an eye exam is at least once every year.
