Posted on 09/06/2005 8:03:32 PM PDT by lunarbicep
PEOPLE who smoke are twice as likely to go blind as those who don't, a report warned yesterday.
Experts believe around 54,000 smokers have developed a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as a result of their habit.
This is the leading cause of blindness in the UK, with around 500,000 sufferers.
The AMD Alliance UK said yesterday the link between smoking and blindness was as strong as that between cigarettes and lung cancer.
Yet only a tiny number of the UK's 13 million smokers are aware of the risk.
A survey of 1,000 people found that only seven per cent knew that AMD affected the eyes.
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But seven in 10 smokers said they would quit if they thought the habit could harm their eyesight.
Pauline Edwards, 50, a nurse from Salford, Greater Manchester, said: "I smoked for years. Now I have AMD, am partially sighted in one eye and am likely to go blind. If I had been told that I could lose my sight because of smoking I would have given up. I stopped the day I found out."
The Royal National Institute of the Blind is calling on the Government to introduce warnings on cigarette packets about the risk to eyesight.
Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the RNIB and chairman of AMD Alliance UK, said: "Smoking is the only proven cause of AMD that people can do anything about. The message is simple: do not smoke."
Research has shown that the risk starts to decrease 10 years after smokers quit.
Simon Kelly, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Bolton Eye Unit, said: "When people are diagnosed with AMD and learn of the link with smoking they want to stop."
Yesterday, it also emerged that around 8,000 bars would stop serving food to escape a total smoking ban, including many "family friendly" pubs.
I thought it was Viagra users that were twice as likely to go blind?
And grow hair on their palms. . .
...Yet only a tiny number of the UK's 13 million smokers are aware of the risk. ...
That's because they haven't gone blind, you lying a$$hole.
And I thought it was little boys who played by themselves under the covers at night (cue the music) "Bless the beasts, and the chiiiildren..."
(steely)
I've only been on the planet for 40 years, granted, but I still have never heard of or known anyone going blind from smoking.
Can I smoke to the point of just needing glasses?
Psst, there are some who are taking this seriously. Be good!
Gee, like lung cancer isn't enough motivation? People fear blindness more than not being able to breathe? I've heard that lung cancer is the worst way to go. I've seen my f-i-l struggling with emphysema and can't imagine how much worse it can get.
Especially if you drink heavily. May stick one of those things in your eye.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes......(Platters playing quietly in the background)
Now, you know you can put an eye out with those things!
"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"?
My father had COPD. Died a slow, painful death.
25 seconds
that's just wrong, it's just wrong
LOL
Here ya go.
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