Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SMOKERS TWICE AS LIKELY TO GO BLIND
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15938982&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=smokers-twice-as-likely-to-go-blind--name_page.html ^

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.

Advertisement

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.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: pufflist; sight; smokegetsinyoureyes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-46 next last

1 posted on 09/06/2005 8:03:34 PM PDT by lunarbicep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

I thought it was Viagra users that were twice as likely to go blind?


2 posted on 09/06/2005 8:04:03 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Ohio State vs. Texarse, Sept 10th)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

And grow hair on their palms. . .


3 posted on 09/06/2005 8:04:31 PM PDT by pa mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep
Yeah, yeah, when smoking is abolished all health ills will go away except for all that processed food and when those go away it will be those emissions again from cars and when those are banned they'll go after...

The cycle never ends. Personal responsibility never comes into it. I don't need the state looking after my personal habits.
4 posted on 09/06/2005 8:06:05 PM PDT by kingu (Draft Fmr Senator Fred Thompson for '08.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

...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.


5 posted on 09/06/2005 8:06:23 PM PDT by planekT (What a mess.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pa mom; MikeinIraq

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..."


6 posted on 09/06/2005 8:06:37 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (As long as Dean's the head of the D-N-C, it just looks better for the G-O-P!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep
So can I do it till I need glasses? (old joke).

(steely)

7 posted on 09/06/2005 8:06:51 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Fortunately, the Bill of Rights doesn't include the word 'is'.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

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.


8 posted on 09/06/2005 8:07:45 PM PDT by SoDak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pa mom

Can I smoke to the point of just needing glasses?


9 posted on 09/06/2005 8:07:47 PM PDT by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Theresawithanh

Psst, there are some who are taking this seriously. Be good!


10 posted on 09/06/2005 8:07:56 PM PDT by pa mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

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.


11 posted on 09/06/2005 8:07:58 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

Especially if you drink heavily. May stick one of those things in your eye.


12 posted on 09/06/2005 8:08:06 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Can we swap Cindy Sheehan in Crawford for Cindy Crawford anywhere?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

13 posted on 09/06/2005 8:08:50 PM PDT by Andy from Beaverton (I only vote Republican to stop the Democrats)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes......(Platters playing quietly in the background)


14 posted on 09/06/2005 8:09:06 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s......you weren't really there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever

Now, you know you can put an eye out with those things!


15 posted on 09/06/2005 8:09:12 PM PDT by pa mom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: lunarbicep

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"?


16 posted on 09/06/2005 8:09:31 PM PDT by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: metmom

My father had COPD. Died a slow, painful death.


17 posted on 09/06/2005 8:09:44 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Can we swap Cindy Sheehan in Crawford for Cindy Crawford anywhere?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ChildOfThe60s

25 seconds


18 posted on 09/06/2005 8:10:28 PM PDT by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Theresawithanh

that's just wrong, it's just wrong

LOL


19 posted on 09/06/2005 8:10:37 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Ohio State vs. Texarse, Sept 10th)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

Here ya go.


20 posted on 09/06/2005 8:11:53 PM PDT by planekT (What a mess.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson