Young People Unaware That Smoking Causes Blindness

Earth Times ^ | 2/6/2007 | Ravi Chopra and Grant Junkie

[Eric Blair 2084]

LONDON - The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) has said that young people are unaware of the fact that smoking could lead to blindness. The charity says that if the government were to fund a national campaign, then young people could give up smoking.

For evidence, it cites an article in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, which found that the fear of blindness was more of a deterrent than anything else. The study surveyed around 250 clubbers in Winchester, Manchester and Southampton. All responders were aged between 16 to 18 years.

On a scale of 5, most rated the fear of lung cancer as 3, while sight loss was rated 4. Furthermore nine of the ten surveyed felt that they would quit smoking if they saw the first signs of vision trouble. Smoking is known to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD, but only 2 percent of those surveyed were aware of this complication.

"The problem with anti-smoking campaigns targeted at teenagers is that they feel they're invincible," said RNIB campaigns manager, Barbara McLaughlan. "It really is important that the link between smoking and blindness becomes common knowledge."

Dr Simon Kelly, who is the co-author of the report appearing in the journal agreed. "When patients are told smoking is damaging their eyes, in my experience, they are usually keen to quit smoking," he added.

Smoking is a common issue in teenagers and it is very difficult to convince them to kick the habit. However the present study highlights the fact that spreading awareness of the risk of blindness might just do the trick.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

So, does smoking cause blindness?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

So what is it about smoking that causes blindness?

[elkfersupper]

Smoking causes everything, including global warming.

I used an unlit cigarette yesterday to clear the fat people out of the candy aisle at the grocery store.

[metesky]

Eric, I thought transvestites got their picture on a carton of 1/2 and 1/2?

Now that's funny.

[rockrr]

There is a sense of absolutism about the question "Does smoking cause blindness" (or cancer, or anything else) that is disingenuous. The real answer is, no it does not, but yes, it can. The clear cause & effect has eluded scientists, so the fanatics compensate with hubris and out~&~out lies.

In the case of my father, he recently discovered that, at age 83, the blood vessels in his eyes have become so damaged from years of smoking, that the ends of them are literally frayed. They now hemorrhage with increasing frequency, and that is driving him blind.

Clear cause & effect, in the eyes of the smoke nazi's. Enough to force by legislation denial of my father to continue the indulgence of his personal choice.

Given that fact, he is encouraged to quit smoking by his doctors, and he declines. As long as he understands and accepts the responsibility for the consequences of his actions (or in this case inactions) I support his decision.

His life - his choice.

[jimt]

My mother (86 and smoking daily) would enjoy this among her daily reads.

[Eric Blair 2084]

That was good.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Eric, I thought transvestites got their picture on a carton of 1/2 and 1/2?

Good one. If anyone here knows how to photoshop this picture:

To this half and half carton:

Go to work.

[gidget7]

uh huh, so does masterbation, or so the "scare the kids into not doing what you don't want them to do" crowd. This makes about as much sense as that used to.

[gidget7]

Exactly right! Kids I know hear all the indoctrination in school, and in that, they get that homosexual sex is healthy and natural. Then they hear smoking causes everything imaginable, as well as second hand smoke. These kids see the irony and the hypocrisy, and find it ridiculous. Consequently, anytime a study comes out, they don't believe it. And yes, some smoke because they don't believe those claims either.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

So, can I do it 'til I need glasses?

[Uncle Peter]

If smoking causes cancer, what does, er... masturbation do?