(http://www.PreserveMacForte.com) Long recognized as a bad habit that can lead to lung cancer, smoking can also lead to eye ailments such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reported Tribune Interactive.
According to the article, smoking boosts the odds of being diagnosed with the eye condition that destroys central vision while leaving peripheral vision intact. Studies have demonstrated that smokers are two to four times more likely to get AMD than are people who have never used a cigarette. The more people smoke, the more they are likely to come down with AMD. Researchers have also discovered that people who don’t smoke but who are often in the same environment as people who do light are at a heightened risk of getting AMD than are those who neither smoke nor are exposed to second-hand smoke.
According to the article, AMD occurs when the macula, which is the portion of the retina responsible for central vision, deteriorates. The article added that many experts are of the opinion that smoking leads to AMD by hindering the way of blood flow to the retina.
According to the article, cigarette smoke contains up to 4,000 harmful active compounds that include heavy metals, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
AMD is not the only eye condition that can be caused by smoking. Smokers also have double the risk of coming down with cataracts compared to people who do not smoke. Heavy smokers, meanwhile, are three times more likely than non-smokers to get AMD.
Previous reports have noted that giving up smoking is one of the most important lifestyle changes to implement. It’s also important to keep cholesterol in check, avoid hypertension, steer clear of obesity, exercise every day and eat lots of leafy green produce. Taking these sorts of precautions will greatly lower the odds of getting AMD or slow down the progression of the ailment. In fact, the sooner the condition is diagnosed, the more treatment options will be on the table. Late diagnosis, meanwhile, can lead to permanent vision loss since there are fewer treatment options at the disposal of the eye doctor.
Reference: http://www.trussvilletribune.com/?p=7277