Is smoking dangerous for people suffering from a macular degeneration?

This key question for those affected by macular degeneration, or generally for vulnerable older people, we want to get to the bottom. But before we look at the links between smoking and macular degeneration more precisely, first a few facts from the literature and the Internet over which doctors and experts agree.

Germany: Worldwide:

Can smoking damage the eyes?

Despite numerous notices on all cigarettes pack, smoking in Germany alone, about 20 million people. How many of them suffering from macular degeneration is unknown. The list of the now proven disease is long - but what about the eyes?

Why does smoking damage the eyes?

We researched on the relations for you:

Professor Carl Erb, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Schlosspark Klinik in Charlottenburg explained in an interview, smoking causes blood flow to the vessels and thus it came to an insufficient supply of the eye with oxygen, which also leads to sensory cells that die off in the retina. The toxins contained in the smoke thickens the vessel walls and blood flow in the direction of retina were reduced. This had devastating consequences for vision, because this could lead to problems such as macular degeneration or a cataract after themselves. Also metabolic products would no longer sufficiently reduced so that the waste material accumulates in the eye, in the so-called druzes. This process could contribute to the development of macular degeneration. But this also leads in addition to the fact that around 3400 people worldwide die daily from the consequences of tobacco consumption, according to Mr. Erb.

Can I go blind from smoking?

Blind by cigarettes? This may sound scary at first, but it seems really possible. We have found a doctor who warns very clearly. The Head of the Ophthalmology Clinic at the park in Charlottenburg Professor Carl Erb explained that it was of the opinion that the vascular processes are altered by smoking in charge of various eye diseases. Even a sudden blindness due to a sudden closure of retinal blood vessels can occur as frequently as bleeding from the optic nerve head due to increased intraocular pressure. Especially heavy smokers would have to reckon with massive visual blurring or blindness caused by a poisoning of the nerve.
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If smoking is so dangerous, what is the situation when having a macular degeneration?

Our investigations have shown that smoking poses a serious threat to human eyes. But what researchers say in connection with macular degeneration?
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What do studies say on the relation between smoking and macular degeneration?

United Kingdom:
The British Medical Journal published a study by the University of Manchester on the relationship between macular degeneration and smoking. Accordingly, in Britain one in five is caused by macular degeneration tobacco consumption. This means that smoking is currently responsible for about 54,000 in the UK macular degeneration sufferers over 69 years. Of these, the "British Medical Journal are" nearly 18,000 blind.

It said there was evidence that the progression of the disease slows down when the macular degeneration-affected population would stop smoking

Source: "British Medical Journal", Vol. 328, S. 537

Australia:
In Australia in 2500 participants of a study of 10 years by a team from the University of Sydney were accompanied. The subjects were all at least 49 years old and had to answer among other questions about dietary habits and cigarette consumption. After five and ten years on the condition of the retinal images were taken of participants to the condition of the macula can be documented and as indications of potential macular degeneration explore.

The result: Smoking carried a fourfold higher risk of macular degeneration as a Non smoking. At least three times as high was the risk for former smokers.

Source: University of Sydney/ "Blue Mountains Eye"-Studie / "Jama" Bd.125, S.1089
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But I have not smoked myself. Is passive smoking also a problem for macular degeneration?

The German Cancer Research Center indicates in a study that would die each year more than 3300 Non smoking by passive co-smoking. But what is with macular degeneration? The study by Cambridge University also shows who had been living at least five years with a smoking show, in the current study a nearly twofold risk of age-related macular degeneration. The risk of developing macular degeneration, it says there is already a short time exposure to tobacco smoke is greatly increased.
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Is it safe to say that smoking affects my macular degeneration?

The AMD Alliance report says: "The single most preventable risk factor that can be clearly seen as scientifically proven, is smoking. A 1996 published study showed a clear link between smoking and AMD." In addition, the report further said: "In addition, an overview of the studies shows on the relationship between smoking and age-related macular degeneration, that the scientific evidence clearly justifies the statement that smoking causes age-related macular degeneration."
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What happens if I stopped smoking immediately?

Stopping smoking is certainly a good decision. But the earlier you decide for the better for your eyes and your related macular degeneration. This is confirmed by the AMD Alliance UK, which has come to the conclusion: Even if you immediately stop smoking, the risk could be susceptible to macular degeneration reduced only very slowly. Ten years had to do without cigarettes, before falling to the risk to begin. But after 20 years "Non smoking," the risk of macular degeneration has reached to suffer the "normal level".
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So what should I do?

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Our result - Recommendation

Since the first October 2003, all EU Member States and Switzerland has undertaken to include prominent warnings be printed on every cigarette pack. For a long time there has been the warning requirement "Smoking causes blindness" on cigarette packs. Nevertheless, every year die worldwide about 5 million people from the consequences of smoking according to the WHO, about 5 million Experts and studies see clear evidence of a link between smoking and passive smoking on the development and progression of macular degeneration.



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