People who smoke double their chances of developing serious vision loss. Smoking can lead to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is leading cause of sight loss in the UK.

• Smoking causes harm to the tissues of the eye. Research has confirmed the harmful effects of smoking on eyesight, particularly in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)  and cataracts.

• Smokers double their risk of developing AMD, and tend to develop it earlier than non-smokers. Treatment options for AMD are limited. Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of macular degeneration developing.

• Smoking is linked to the development of cataracts, and although they are treatable and therefore do not lead to blindness, they remain a major cause of sight loss in the UK.

• Smoking can make diabetes related sight problems worse.

• Smoking increases free radicals, which accelerate ageing, and alter the body’s ability to absorb or extract necessary vitamins and minerals from food.

• Passive smoking is almost as harmful as smoking yourself.