Smoking is One of the Greatest Causes of Macular Degeneration

Why Quit Smoking?The tar in cigarettes triggers the formation of
Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage todeposits and thickening in the retina that cause
your vision. Macular degeneration and smokingage-related macular degeneration, according to
have many health implications for the eyes.Duke University Medical Center researchers.
Smoking causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of"Our group also previously demonstrated that
blood vessels) which affects the blood supply tonicotine makes active wet macular degeneration
the eye and increases your blood pressure whichworse. This is important because this implies that
is also a risk factor for macular degeneration.patients with active wet AMD should not smoke
Smoking enhances the generation of free radicalsor use nicotine replacement therapies," states
which causes cellular damage.Ivan Suñer, MD.
Smoking decreases the levels of antioxidantsThe study done by Dr. Suñer also concluded
(which protect against free radical damage) in thethat heavy exposure to secondhand smoke can
blood circulation, the aqueous humor (the clearalso cause these changes.
liquid between the cornea and the lens) and theSmoking impedes the circulation of blood to the
tissue surrounding the eye and retina.eye and retina and damages the delicate blood
Smoking causes a reduction in macular pigmentvessels inside your eye.
density in the fovea (center of the macula).Studies in mice showed that smoking has a role in
Macular pigment protects the macula from UVcell injury to the retinal pigmentepithelium.
and blue light damage.The most important thing you can do to protect
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in theyourself against AMD is not to smoke, and if you
blood so that there is less oxygen being fed todo smoke, to stop.
the macula.