Researchers at
Rutgers
University Behavioral Health Care reported findings of a study in Psychiatry Research demonstrating that smoking
more than 20 cigarettes a day can damage your vision. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 34.3 million
adults in the US currently smoke cigarettes and that more than 16 million live
with a smoking-related disease, many of which affect the cardiovascular system.
Cigarette smoke consists of numerous neurotoxic compounds that are harmful to
health. These neurotoxic chemicals are believed to result in nerve damage to
the optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer resulting in a loss of color
vision and contrast sensitivity. This damage is in addition to the known
harmful effects of smoking which doubles the risk for age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) and hastens the yellowing of the crystalline lens of the eye
where cataracts form.
If
you or someone you know is a smoker-now is the time to quit! To learn more
about eye health and smoking schedule an eye exam at The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care
& Surgery Center,
or
facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.
The Eye Care & Surgery Center is an affiliate of Prism Vision
Group and is located at 592
Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren,
New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout
central and northern New Jersey.
