When smoke gets in your eyes

When smoke gets in your eyes !!!

An approximate amount of 4000 chemicals present in cigarette smoke gets into the bloodstream of smokers and may cause damage to the eyes     Cigarette smoke can even cause thinning of the membrane covering the eye (Conjunctiva) resulting in a bloodspot and irritation to the eyes.     Age related macular degeneration and other diseases have also been linked to smoking. The causes of macular degeneration are not completely understood but smoking is believed to be the main preventable risk factor. Smoking is directly linked to the rising of intracular pressure that can lead to Glaucoma and optic nerve damage. Although smoking is associated with several eye diseases, the most common cause of smoking-related blindness is age related macular degeneration which results in severe irreversible loss of central vision. How does smoking damage the eyes? Thousands of chemicals get into the bloodstream when you inhale cigarette smoke, which travels throughout the body. These chemicals cause damage to the Macula. Tiny blood vessels can burst throughout the macula leading to irreversible damage or alternatively the cells of the macula slowly die. Both ultimately lead to loss of vision. UV PROTECTION Exposure to UV radiation can harm your eyes and affect your vision as well.     There are three types of UV radiation. One type called UV-C is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not present any threat. More and more scientific evidence indicates that exposure to both UV-A and UV-B can have adverse effects on your eyes and vision.     If you are exposed and unprotected to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience an effect called Photokeratitis, like ‘sunburn of the eye’. Extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing may be noticed. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes. Long term exposure to UV rays can definitely be hazardous.