This article was written by Support

When you are looking at understanding the issues that go along with age related macular degeneration, also known as ARMD, you’ll find that it is important for you to consider smoking. While smoking is not the only factor that seems present in the development of this condition, there is certainly evidence that states that it is one of the factors that seems to make people more susceptible to the condition. We all know that smoking is bad for our lungs, but how does it affect our eyes? It has actually been stated that there is as much evidence for the link between ARMD and smoking as there is between lung cancer and smoking, but few people know this.

There has been a study done at the Chinese University of Hong Kong that states that there are strong links between smoking and toxic damage to the eye. It is completely believable that second hand smoke can also create similar issues for non smokers, and there is a tentative link to smoking and the decrease of blood flow to eye capillaries and the blood clots within the capillaries of the eye. This has the effect of cutting off the flow of vital nutrients as well increasing the level of free radicals that are a part of the process that can lead to the death or malfunction of healthy cells.

According to a report published for ophthalmologists, there is the indication that the risk of developing any sort of ARMD is going to be two to three times higher for people who are currently smokers than it will be for people who have never smoked. Ex smokers only had an increased risk compared with people who have never smoked and the risk will go down for every successive year that passes without smoking.

With this in mind, it is encouraging to realize that stopping smoking will immediately reduce your chances of developing ARMD and of seeing a marked progression of the issue. It is possible to quit smoking and see at least a slowing or even a halt in the progression of the condition. It is generally thought that once the oxidative stress from smoking and similar activities is removed, the condition will cease to worsen. While it will not restore the sight that has been lost, take some time and really consider the difference that it can make.

It is also important to remember that there are other factors that go into increasing the likelihood of macular degeneration as well. Age, gender and sex can all play a role, but it is also important to control the factors that you can. Cardiovascular health obesity are also factors, but don’t forget that high up on that list is smoking!