Eye Need to Quit Smoking


As we enter into the New Year, many people have set themselves the New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, and eye doctors provide them with even more incentives. Following a study conducted by eye specialists at the University of California-Los Angeles, they have warned that smoking is the second biggest risk factor in the development of Age-related Macular Degeneration, after age.

The study was covered extensively to obtain results as to just how much smoking affects the risk of AMD and the results emphasize that it is never too late to stop smoking and reduce the risk of the disease. The study was conducted on 1,958 women who had had five year intervals of retinal photographs taken, with the baseline being at the age of 78. These retinal images were then compared at the ages of 78 and 83, taking into consideration the 75 women of the test study who smoked. The results revealed that overall the risk was increased by 11% for those women who smoked compared to other women at the same age. However, over the age of 80 this was reduced to 5.5 time more likely.

This is the first test that has been conducted on an older generation of patients, and Dr. Anne Coleman who is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of California-Los Angeles stresses that the result is a harsh reality that not only does age add to the risk of AMD but this is severely increased through smoking. The results are considerably accurate in defining the risks and show just how smoking can affect our health later on in life. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, kicking the habit now could benefit your eyesight dramatically. With smoking also increasing the risk of heart disease, lung disease, and increased infertility problems and so on, and now with the affect it could have on your eyes; make your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking.

2nd January 2010

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