Many people unaware smoking causes blindness

A recent survey has revealed 53 per cent of people are not aware that smoking causes blindness.

The survey was conducted by national sight loss charity the Macular Society in the lead up to Macular Week (26 June – 2 July), which raises awareness of the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK – age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to the Macular Society smoking is the biggest ‘modifiable’ risk factor when it comes to AMD and smokers are up to four times more likely to develop the condition. Passive smoking can also have an impact on your eye health. During Macular Week the Society is highlighting the harmful effects of smoking on your eyes.

One person who was unaware of the connection between smoking and sight loss was Sylvia Webb from Amersham. Sylvia, aged 85 who is a Macular Society volunteer, smoked for more than 30 years and was diagnosed with AMD in 1987. She said: “Most people realise there’s a possibility that if you smoke you might get lung cancer or another cancer, but they don’t know you could lose your sight. Now I know that smoking is a very stupid thing to do and why I did it I don’t know, it’s what you did then. Had I thought I might lose my sight I would have been more keen to give up. I never heard of any connection and I’m still not hearing it really.”

Many of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are extremely toxic. These toxic chemicals are then transported to the delicate tissues of the eye through the bloodstream, where they damage the structure of the cells.

Cathy Yelf, chief executive of the Macular Society, said: “It is surprising how many people do not realise that smoking causes blindness. The message is often missing from anti-smoking messages, which simply concentrate on the life-threatening side effects of smoking. Sight loss, however, is a very important effect of smoking. If you smoke, you’re three to four times more likely to develop macular disease. If you smoke and you have certain genetic characteristics, then your risk goes up enormously. You could be 20 or more times more likely to get macular disease if you have those certain genes and you smoke. Smoking is incredibly bad for your eyes.”

For more information on macular degeneration, call the Macular Society’s helpline on 0300 3030 111 or email help@macularsociety.org.