Most people are well aware of the dangers that hide the smoking for lungs or heart, but do not realize that it hurts and look their. Nor do they know that the use of electronic cigarettes also poses risks, though different from smoking conventional cigarettes.
‘Ophthalmological risks by smoking conventional cigarette There are many and well thought out. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing many ophthalmopathies, some of which may threaten vision. It can also aggravate eye diseases that have other causes, “explains Dr. Anastasios-i. Kanellopoulos, MD, Ophthalmologist Surgeon, Founder and Scientific Director of the Laservision Institute of Ophthalmology, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of New York.
The reason for this is the effects of tobacco and its chemicals on sensitive eye structures, including the ophthalmic lens on the surface of the eyes (responsible for the focus of light), the retina tunic on their back (is the structure containing the light cells) and the macula (the most sensitive part of the retina).
In particular, smoking is related to dry eye, which develops when the eyes do not produce enough or good quality tears. It has been found that smoking exacerbates the dryness of the eyes, exacerbating itching (itching), burning sensation (burning) and the redness it causes.
Smokers are also at increased risk of manifesting some ophthalmopathies in which the waterfalls and age degeneration of the macular.
THE cataract It is the blur of the natural eye lens. When developed, it is treated only with surgery. Smokers are two to three times more likely to manifest it than non -smokers.
In addition, smokers are four times more likely to manifest age degeneration of macular. They even manifest it earlier than expected. In fact, smoking has speeded it up 5.5 years on average, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Those who live in smokers’ houses are twice as likely to develop it due to passive smoking.
Smoking also favors the problems of the optic nerve, which connects the eyes to the brain. Damages to the optic nerve can lead to blindness.
Patients with diabetes who smoke, moreover, are at increased risk of manifesting diabetic retinopathydue to damage to the blood vessels of the retina. And those suffering from thyroid ophthalmopathy (or Graves’ disease) are at increased risk of deterioration if they smoke.
The vapor It hides different dangers, according to Mr. Kanellopoulos. “The solutions used in electronic cigarettes often have higher nicotine concentrations than conventional cigarettes. Although they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, they contain chemicals with known and unknown effects on the eyes. We still study these effects and their exact range is not known. A special case is those who smoke both conventional and electronic cigarettes, because their risks are combined, ”he says.
The vapor had initially been introduced as a means of assisting smoking cessation, it continues. For many people, however, it has now become a daily habit of smoking, which often exposes them daily to new kinds of chemicals.
“It has been found, among other things, that aldehydes and free radicals containing electronic cigarettes can cause disorder in the stability of the tear layer, favoring dry eye. Their aromatic substances stimulate the production of free radicals, which are active molecules that cause cell damage and increase the risk of cataracts. The use of electronic cigarettes can also reduce blood flow to the eyes by affecting the function of the retina, ”he explains.
The vapor can also cause inflammatory reactions to the epithelial cells of the cornea on the surface of the eyes, while nicotine causes nystagmus (involuntary repeated eye movements) and vasoconstriction in the eye vessels.
Separate ophthalmological problems is caused by the Combination of smoking with the vaporwhich is extremely common especially in young people. It is estimated that 40% of high school and high school students who smoke use both products. However, a study of more than 4,300 young people aged 13-24 showed that those who were “double users” were more likely to report problems such as blurred vision, dry eye, blushing eyes, eye pain, sensitivity to light and headaches. In fact, eye problems were more intense and more often in “duplicates”, than those who used only one or the other.
‘Even at infants Serious ophthalmic problems have been observed when their mothers smoke during pregnancy. One of the most typical examples is the retinopathy of prematureness, a disorder observed in babies who are born prematurely and can cause permanent vision or blindness. And children growing up in smoking parent houses are likely to have evidence of ocular damage since 6 years, due to passive smoking, ”the professor said.
Avoiding smoking and steaming, as well as avoiding exposure to tobacco, “is the best investment you can make for the long -term health of your eyes,” concludes Mr. Kanellopoulos.