Smoking and Eye Health

I hope everybody enjoyed their holidays. It’s the start of the new year and many of us have made resolutions that we want to keep. Quitting smoking would be high on the priority list for some of us. It has been well documented that smoking has a strong association with lung cancer and cardiovascular disease among the general population. However, according to surverys, only 9% of the population knows that smoking can be detrimental to your eye health. So what are some ocular complications from smoking?

1. Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) – Smoking is the strongest epidemiolgical risk factor for developing ARMD. The understanding of the mechanism is limited but the most likely causes are oxidative damage and pathological vascular changes.

2. Dry Eyes – Smoking can damage goblet cells that are important in producing the oily layer for our tears.

3. Graves’ Ophthalmopathy – Cyanide in the cigarettes can act as an anti-thyroid agent. This directly inhibits the iodide uptake and hormone synthesis. When this happens, this may lead to proptosis (bulging of the eyeballs)

4. Glaucoma – Some studies have shown a 2.9 times increase in developing glaucoma. Smoking has also shown that it may increase your eye pressure by almost 5.0 mmHg.

5. Cataracts – There is an increase of nuclear sclerotic cataracts and subcapsular cataracts. The free radicals that are in cigarettes may trigger the development of cataracts sooner than the general population.

Your optometrist can check if there is any ocular health damage due to smoking. If you need help to quit smoking, talk to your optometrist or your family doctor.  Websites such as www.smokershelpline.ca or www.gosmokefree.gc.ca may also help.  At Avenue Eyecare, we are here to help you with all your eyecare needs.

Dr. Sherman Tung, OD FAAO

drtung@avenueeyecare.com
Vancouver Kerrisdale Optometrist

Contact Avenue Eyecare to book your appointment today.

Can I substitute the cheaper brown bottles of hydrogen peroxide for my hydrogen peroxide contact lens solution?

I often recommend hydrogen peroxide contact lens disinfection solutions because it has broad anti-bacterial activity and is preservative-free.  The solution needs to be neutralized with a catalytic disc which is usually built into the case that comes with the solution.  Once it’s neutralized (over a 6 hour period), the neutralized hydrogen peroxide is safe for your eyes. If you accidentally put the hydrogen peroxide solution into your eyes before it is neutralized, you’ll experience an uncomfortable stinging sensation and possible corneal damage.  Basically, it’s great IF you follow the instructions!

I had a question from a patient regarding the difference between the cheaper “brown” bottles of peroxide and the more expensive contact lens solution version (e.g. Clear Care).  The regular hydrogen peroxides are NOT approved by Health Canada for ophthalmic use.  Solutions approved for ophthalmic use go through rigorous testing with clinical trials, undergo evaluations regarding the stability of the solution, and must meet strict purification/sterility requirements.  The cheaper brown bottles of peroxide are not tested under the same quality standards and may not be compatible with contact lenses or your eyes.  Moreover, they are also not buffered to the pH of your tears at 7.4-7.6.  Lastly, hydrogen peroxide solutions for the eyes contain surfactants which help clean the lenses and keep them comfortable.

In summary, do not substitute please!

Dr. Jessica Chang, OD drchang@avenueeyecare.com

More Reasons why we should follow through with our New Year’s Resolutions

First off, Happy New Year to our readers! This is the time of the year when we stop and reflect upon what we’ve learned and accomplished in 2011 and look forward to implement things that will make us even better for 2012. Did you know the most popular New Year’s resolutions involve improving personal well-being? These include eating healthier, losing weight, and kicking bad habits (most commonly smoking).

If you find yourself already lacking motivation to follow through with these resolutions, here are some extra reasons to push you forward as we begin 2012. Good nutrition can improve your eye’s health and vision, especially as we age. Studies show that diets high in lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and omega-3 can slow progression or prevent eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It’s time to take action: Eat more leafy greens and aim for 2 servings of fish per week!

The effects of obesity are well documented in terms of its impact on overall health, including developing diabetes and hypertension. Obesity is also linked to an increased risk of eye diseases such as age-related cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy. It’s time to take action: Find a physical activity you enjoy and do it often!

All smokers are well-aware of its negative effects on the respiratory system (lung cancer, emphysema, etc…) and the cardiovascular system (heart disease). Smoking also increases your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and some forms of cataracts. It’s time to take action: You know what you have to do!

Now that you know following through with these common New Year’s resolutions can impact your eye health and vision for years to come, what are you going to do about it?

Dr. Jessica Chang, OD drchang@avenueeyecare.com