Can alcohol consumption and smoking lead to blindness?
Recent findings published in the medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology suggests it can, with emerging research discovering a connection between alcohol, smoking and the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
According to the study, smoking initiation and a lifetime of smoking were both associated with a higher risk of AMD, and alcohol intake was linked to an increased risk of geographic atrophy – an advanced form of dry AMD.
However there is some good news – the study found that smoking cessation (quitting) reduces the risk of developing advanced AMD.
Age-related macular degeneration, generally known as macular degeneration, is a progressive eye disease that destroys central vision. It’s the most common macular disease, with about 1.4 million Australians having some signs of AMD. It’s important to know that early detection of AMD is crucial to saving sight.
Symptoms of AMD
Unfortunately, it’s very common to be unaware that early signs of macular degeneration are developing, as symptoms are usually painless and appear gradually.
Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) lists noticeable symptoms of AMD as:
- difficulty reading or any other activity which requires fine vision, even when wearing glasses
- distortion, where straight lines appear wavy or bent
- difficulty distinguishing faces
- dark or blurred patches in the centre of your vision
Visit your optometrist
While there is no cure for this eye disease, controllable factors, such as a macular-friendly diet and a few lifestyle changes like regular exercise and quitting smoking, are proven to delay its onset and progression.
As 90 per cent of all blindness and vision impairment in Australia is preventable or treatable if detected early, it is crucial to visit your optometrist for regular eye examinations – even if you feel like nothing is wrong. With AMD being responsible for 50 per cent of blindness in Australia, it’s important that all Aussies get on top of their eye health early.
To help better understand this serious macular disease, MDFA recently released a series of educational videos that answer common questions about eye health. They also have an easy 1-minute quiz to help Aussies check their AMD risk factors instantly. However, the only accurate way to diagnose macular disease in the early stages is by visiting an eye health professional and having an eye examination. Your optometrist can often detect the earliest signs of AMD well before you notice any changes in your vision yourself, and if detected provide advice on strategies to reduce your personal risk.
You can use our find an optometrist tool to determine your local optometrist and make an appointment today.
