Tobacco smoking - a global epidemic
The scourge of tobacco smoking has become a global epidemic and poses a serious threat to public health. With smoking, it doesn't matter so much that you are not the person holding the stick and engaging in the act smoking. If you are constantly in an environment where tobacco smoking takes place, then you are also at great risk. Tobacco smoking is responsible for about 8 million deaths every year. Of these, 1.2 million are people exposed to second hand smoking.
How tobacco smoking can harm the eyes
Smoking can adversely affect the lungs, causing lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. But do you know that smoking can also affect nearly all the organs in the body, including the eyes? Yes, smoke does get in your eyes! It increases the risk of developing the following eye diseases:
- Cataract - a clouding of the lens of the eye which is the commonest cause of blindness globally
- Age-related macular degeneration, ARMD - smoking is one of the known main risk factors for this disease. ARMD affects the central vision by causing dark patches in the field of view
- Dry eye - the quality and quantity of tears produced by the eyes are altered, leading to irritation of the eyes. Smoking worsens this disease.
- Diabetic retinopathy - smoking not only increases the risk of diabetes, but also that of its most significant blinding complication, diabetic retinopathy, by harming the small vessels at the back of the eye
- Uveitis - this is an inflammatory condition of the eye which may lead to dire complications such as glaucoma and cataract if not appropriately managed
- Grave's disease - smoking worsens the eye symptoms and signs associated with thyroid eye disease which includes bulging of the eyes
There are so many reasons why you should quit smoking, and practically none why you shouldn't. Now is a good time to seriously consider quitting.
It's "World No Tobacco Day 2019"
#NoTobaccoDay #NoToSmoking #EyeHealth #HealthyEyeMonth
