From glaucoma to age-related macular degeneration, there are plenty of eye diseases that can deprive you of sight.
Even worse, one expert warns that certain exercise may pose a significant risk to vision by increasing the risk of these conditions.
Sujata Paul, chief clinical professional services and contact lens optometrist at Lenstore, explained the “often forgotten” effects of smoking on the eyes.
And this damage includes not only traditional cigarettes, but electronic cigarettes can also be harmful, so the idea of giving up the first and replacing it with the second will not protect your eyes.
“Tobacco smoking is known and proven to have many negative effects on the body, including eyesight. From a short-term perspective, tobacco smoke can also cause dry eye syndrome, resulting in eye irritation and pain.”
And when it comes to long-term risks, that’s where “permanent vision loss” comes in.
“Smoking can increase the risk of developing serious eye diseases that may in some cases lead to permanent vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma,” the expert added.
And electronic smoke is no better because it causes oxidative stress to the eyes.
“Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance in your oxygen levels. Like anywhere else in the body, additional stress can have negative health effects. Over time, vaping will increase your risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and even glaucoma,” Paul continued. “.
“Glaucoma lowers eyesight and can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated,” she noted.
What is glaucoma?
According to the National Health Service (NHS), glaucoma is an eye condition in which the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, is damaged.
Even worse, this eye condition can lead to vision loss if not caught early.
Unfortunately, glaucoma is characterized by a lack of warning signs, which makes it difficult to detect.
The condition tends to develop slowly over many years. However, there are some symptoms that glaucoma patients may experience such as severe eye pain, vomiting and nausea, eye redness, headache, seeing rings around lights or blurred vision.
It is essential to see an eye specialist if you are having any vision problems.
“If you start noticing changes in your eyesight such as blurry spots in your central vision, a need for more light to read and straight lines starting to appear wavy, then an eye exam is usually the most effective way to catch any eye disease early,” Ball added.