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Smoking and Vision
Smoking and vision• Facts about smoking• What is in a cigarette?• Cataracts• Glaucoma• Macular degeneration• Strabismus• Contact lenses• Environmental tobacco smoke
The facts about smoking
• Smokers are 82 per cent more likely
than non smokers to suffer from dry
eye
• Even former smokers have a 22 per
cent higher incidence of dry eye than
non smokers
What is in a cigarette?• As many as 4000
active compounds• Most of them toxic on
acute or long term exposure
• Toxic compounds have negative effects on different organs including the eye
Smoking and cataracts
• Cloudiness in the lens of the eye
• Cataracts are common in people over 60
• Smokers develop cataracts earlier and more severely
Smoking and glaucoma• Disease of optic nerve• Loss of peripheral
vision• There is thought to be
an association between smoking and glaucoma
• Treatment best in early stages
Smoking and AMD• Age-related macular degeneration is
the leading cause of blindness• It is thought that smoking doubles the
risk of late AMD• The risk of late AMD remains higher
until 20 years after a person stops smoking
Smoking and strabismus• Turning of the eye or eyes• Common in children• Treatment can include glasses,
patching or exercises• Smoking during pregnancy can
increase the risk of strabismus in children
Smoking and contact lenses• Increased risk of
contact lens related infection
• Smokers are more likely to suffer from dry eye, increasing the chance of contact lens difficulties
Environmental Tobacco Smoke• Cigarette smoke irritates the film
covering the white part of the eye• Cigarette smoke affects the eyes of
non smokers through second-hand smoke
• Eye irritation is the most common complaint due to environmental tobacco smoke
Regular eye examinations are essential• No referral is required
• Eye tests attract a medicare rebate
• Find your local optometrist at
www.optometry.org.au
Optometrists• Provide a comprehensive visual
examination• Detect and diagnose eye health problems• Prescribe and supply glasses and contact
lenses when required• Diagnose and treat eye coordination and
focussing problems
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