Smoking is a well-known risk factor for a wide range of diseases. Scientists now have evidence that smokers are more at risk of developing age-related cataracts, which most often leads to loss of vision and blindness.
The new information was obtained as a result of a meta-analysis conducted by Chinese researchers from the Institute of Ophthalmology.
A team of researchers analyzed the results of 20 studies conducted in Australia, Africa, Asia, North America and Europe, compared the prevalence of age-related cataracts among people who were once exposed to smoking and among those who had never been addicted to cigarettes.
Analysis of the results showed that every person who ever smoked was more likely to get cataracts with age, and the risk of morbidity was higher for those who continued to smoke. Scientists have found a positive relationship between smoking and the development of two types of cataracts: nuclear cataract (clouding of the central nucleus of the lens) and subcapsular cataract (clouding of the posterior lens capsule). Scientists have not found any connection between smoking and cortical cataracts (clouding of the lens cortex).
"Although cataracts are successfully removed surgically and vision is restored, many people nevertheless remain blind. The reason is that the quality of surgical services is often inadequate, and also because of the high cost of the operation," said study author Yuan Ye, MD from the Institute of Ophthalmology. “The identification of modifiable (variable) risk factors for cataracts will help develop preventive measures in order to reduce financial and other costs associated with the disease.”
