Heavy smoking may damage vision: Study


Team Udayavani, Feb 18, 2019, 8:09 AM IST

Washington: Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day may damage your vision by affecting blood vessels and neurons in the retina, a study warns.

The study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, included 71 healthy people who smoked fewer than 15 cigarettes in their lives and 63 who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day, were diagnosed with tobacco addiction and reported no attempts to stop.

The participants were between the ages of 25 and 45 and had a normal or corrected-to-normal vision as measured by standard visual acuity charts, said researchers from the Rutgers University in the US.

They looked at how participants discriminated contrast levels (subtle differences in shading) and colours while seated 59 inches from a 19-inch cathode-ray tube monitor that displayed stimuli while researchers monitored both eyes simultaneously.

The findings indicated significant changes in the smokers’ red-green and blue-yellow colour vision, which suggests that consuming substances with neurotoxic chemicals, such as those in cigarettes, may cause overall colour vision loss.

They also found that the heavy smokers had a reduced ability to discriminate contrasts and colours when compared to the non-smokers.

“Cigarette smoke consists of numerous compounds that are harmful to health,” said Steven Silverstein, director of research at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

“It has been linked to a reduction in the thickness of layers in the brain, and to brain lesions, involving areas such as the frontal lobe, which plays a role in voluntary movement and control of thinking, and a decrease in activity in the area of the brain that processes vision,” said Silverstein.

Previous studies have pointed out that long-term smoking doubles the risk for age-related macular degeneration and causes lens yellowing and inflammation.

“Our results indicate that excessive use of cigarettes, or chronic exposure to their compounds, affects visual discrimination, supporting the existence of overall deficits in visual processing with tobacco addiction,” Silverstein said.

Although the research did not give a physiological explanation for the results, Silverstein said that since nicotine and smoking harm the vascular system, the study suggests they also damage blood vessels and neurons in the retina.

He said the findings also suggest that research into visual processing impairments in other groups of people, such as those with schizophrenia who often smoke heavily, should take into account their smoking rate or independently examine smokers versus non-smokers.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

World Diabetes Day: One-fourth of people living with diabetes in 2022 are in India, Lancet study estimates

Mangaluru: Lecturer succumbs to food allergy; Organs donated

Karnataka sets up panel for internal reservation among STs

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Congress in clutches of urban naxals, became puppet of people with divisive agenda: J P Nadda

Even if Indira Gandhi returns from heaven, Article 370 will not be restored: Amit Shah

Tilak Varma slams ton as India take 2-1 lead against South Africa with 11-run win in third T20I

PM Modi to visit Bihar’s Jamui to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Related Articles More

World Diabetes Day: One-fourth of people living with diabetes in 2022 are in India, Lancet study estimates

Disruption in liver-brain communication behind overeating, Study claims

Acute Blood Shortage at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal: Donate blood and save lives

50-60% cancer cases detected in India annually are preventable, say oncologists

Doctors report treating ‘petticoat cancer’ in women who might have tied sarees tightly at waist

MUST WATCH

Punganur Cow

Rangoli design

Jagadeesh Nagaraj Kudupali Audio Viral

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali


Latest Additions

World Diabetes Day: One-fourth of people living with diabetes in 2022 are in India, Lancet study estimates

CM Siddaramaiah says no decision taken on 4 per cent Muslim reservation in govt tenders

Haryana Shiv Sena leader claims he received threat call from Bishnoi gang

Vitla: Tree falls on truck, blocks Mani-Mysuru State Highway

Mangaluru: Lecturer succumbs to food allergy; Organs donated

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.