Specsavers is encouraging smokers to take part in Stoptober – giving up cigarettes for the month – because quitting the habit significantly reduces risks to eye health.
People who stop smoking for 28 days are five times as likely to stop for good, said the company.
Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical services director, said: “Studies have shown that smoking can double your chances of developing cataracts, triple the chances of age-related macular degeneration [AMD], increase the risk of uveitis and double the risk of diabetes, which in turn could lead to diabetic retinopathy.”
While tobacco smokers remain the most at risk of developing AMD, research also indicates that vapour from e-cigarettes can cause irritation and lead to dry eye syndrome, Specsavers added.
Alongside the Stoptober challenge, many people choose to go ‘Go Sober for October’ and reducing alcohol consumption also benefits sight.
Giles added: “Alcohol is a diuretic, and when you lose more fluid than you take in, your body becomes dehydrated. Our eyes can become dry and irritated, and we can even start to get slightly blurred vision because there are not enough tears to lubricate the eye.”