Smoking causes harm to the tissues of the eye. Research has confirmed the harmful effects of smoking on eyesight, particularly in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - one of the UK's leading causes of sight loss - and cataracts.
Treatment options for AMD are limited. Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of macular degeneration developing. Although cataracts are treatable and therefore do not lead to blindness, they remain a major cause of sight loss in the UK.