Smoking doubles risk of age-related macular degeneration

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

People who smoke are twice as likely to have age-related macular degeneration as non-smokers.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among older people. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have carried out a study of over 4,000 people aged 75 or older to look into factors affecting AMD.

All had a series of detailed eye tests and were asked about their smoking habits, past and present. Those who had stopped smoking more than 20 years ago did not have an increased risk of AMD. But current smoking doubled the risk. Based upon the numbers in Britain known to be blind or partially sighted as a result of AMD, the researchers believe that smoking may have caused up to 30,000 cases. Given that vision loss can have a significant impact on quality of life and independence, it's important people are made aware of the risk smoking poses in terms of AMD,

Source
British Journal of Ophthalmology April 2005 Volume 89 pages 550-553

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