The eyes play an integral role in understanding and perceiving surroundings. Sight is one of the most intricate yet complex physiological processes in the body. Therefore, good eye health helps improve one’s quality of life.
Eye health, much like other body processes, is subject to harm owing to various controllable factors. Two of these factors include tobacco and alcohol consumptionboth of which harbor a significant impact on eye health, potentially leading to vision loss.
The following discusses the effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption on eye health.
TOBACCO
Perhaps the easiest way to consume tobacco is via smoking. Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of disease and premature death in America. Cigarette smoke affects nearly every organ in the body. Aside from heart disease and cancer, smoking has been studied to contribute to vision problems. The following are some ways in which smoking negatively affects the eyes.
- Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness across the globe. According to an estimate, over 50% of Americans will have cataracts or cataract correction surgery by the age of 80.
Defined as the clouding of the eyes’ naturally clear lens, cataracts result in blurry vision and making colors look faded, dull, or yellowish.
Smokers are at a much greater risk of developing cataracts as compared to non-smokers. Therefore, everyone is recommended to get annual consultations with ophthalmologists in Austin to keep their eye health in check.
- Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results when a part of the retina called the macula gets damaged. The macula produces a sharp central vision. AMD results in the formation of blind spots, and the person is unable to notice fine details. AMD is the leading cause of permanent loss of vision in the US in citizens aged 65 and above.
According to the results of various studies, smokers have a three times higher risk of developing AMD than non-smokers. Female smokers 80 and above have a 5.5 times higher risk. However, smoking is a controllable risk factor for AMD. Therefore, quitting smoking helps reduce risk significantly.
- Uveitis
Uveitis refers to the painful inflammation of the uvea, or the middle layer of the eye, which causes the eyes to become red and bloodshot. Uveitis is a serious condition that may even result in complete loss of vision because it harms the eye’s vital structures, including the retina and iris. Furthermore, uveitis can result in complications such as glaucoma, cataract, and retinal detachment.
Studies suggest that smokers are more likely to develop uveitis as compared to non-smokers. According to the results of one study, smokers have a 2.2 times higher risk than a non-smoker.
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that results in damages to the blood vessels of the retina. The condition results in a distorted or blurry vision and can lead to a complete loss of vision. This highly prevalent condition affects over 5 million Americans over the age of 40 due to both type 1 and types 2 diabetes. As per the CDC’s assessment, this number is expected to grow up to 16 million by 2050.
Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and its complications by two folds. Therefore, smoking also contributes to the development of diabetic retinopathy.
- Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome refers to the insufficient production of tears on the surfaces of the eyes. Tears help keep the eyes healthy and lubricatedpatients with dry eyes present with redness, burning, and itchiness in their eyes.
Cigarette smoke, a known eye irritant, worsens the condition, especially in people who wear contact lenses. People who smoke are studied to be twice as likely to have dry eyes.
- Infant Eye Disease
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal and infant eye disorder development, among other serious health issues such as crossed eyes (strabismus), retinopathy, and optic never underdevelopment, a leading cause of blindness in children.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol consumption harbors a substantial effect on one’s health. While some may assume the results are restricted to heavy drinkers only, consuming alcohol in any amount consistently can have contributed to an array of physical and psychological consequences.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) of 2018, an estimated 14.4 million Americans over 18 years of age suffer from an alcohol use disorder.
Much like its impact on other organs, alcohol negatively influences eye health as well. An occasional drink will not do much harm. There might be temporary outcomes such as blurry vision, dizziness, and more, but they wear off quickly.
Heavy drinkers, on the other hand, are at a significantly higher risk of developing both short and long-term eye damage owing to alcohol consumption.
The following are the short and long-term effects of alcohol consumption on the eyes.
- Short-term effects
- Dryness: Studies suggest that even a small amount of alcohol can contribute to the development of dry eyes and intensify it.
- Twitching: Twitching, or myokymia, may result from excessive alcohol consumption.
- Slow Pupil Reaction: Alcohol causes the eye’s iris to dilate slower than usual, leading to tunnel vision because the pupils do not open up as usual.
- Impaired Contrast: Alcohol impairs a person’s ability to distinguish between objects based on their colors and how light or dark they are.
- Migraines: Migraines have been studied to result from excessive alcohol consumption. People have been reported to experience a temporary debilitating visual aura, which may appear as blind spots, vision graying, or zigzag light patterns before the onset of the headache.
- Long-term effects
- Optic Neuropathy: Optic neuropathy, or tobacco-alcohol amblyopia, causes painless loss of peripheral and color vision.
- Vitamin Deficiency: Drinking damages the liver and impairs its ability to intake vitamins necessary to maintain healthy eyesight.
- Cataract: Cataract formation is higher in those with a history of high alcohol intake than those with little or no alcohol intake.
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Heavy alcohol consumption causes oxidative damage to the retina, contributing to the development of AMD.
Note: According to the results of a study in Australia, drinking more than 20g of alcohol daily results in a 20% increased chance of developing early AMD compared to those who have zero alcohol intake.
- Parting thoughts
Tobacco and alcohol both can contribute to deteriorating eye health and eventual loss of vision. Thus, it is essential to kick such habits to the curb, so the risk of developing these conditions is reduced automatically.
Additionally, everyone should make it a priority to schedule an eye exam with their ophthalmologist every year to keep a proper check on their eye health and diagnose any potential problems early on. Early diagnosis may just help save your eyesight.
Evie Harrison:
Evie harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. Find her on Twitter:@iamevieharrison
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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