Title:Smoking and Eye Pathologies. A Systemic Review. Part I. Anterior Eye Segment Pathologies
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Author(s): Malgorzata Nita and Andrzej Grzybowski
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Tobacco smoking, refraction, cornea, cataract, glaucoma, adults, children.
Abstract: Background: Tobacco smoking has detrimental influence on human health and is one of the leading
causes of preventable mortality worldwide, associated with lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease and
cardiovascular disease.
Aim: The analysis of the influence of tobacco smoking on pathology of the anterior segment of the eye in adults
and children.
Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature performed through MEDLINE and PubMed searches, was
published during the period 2000-2016.
Results: In adults, tobacco smoking is associated with hyperopia, delayed corneal epithelial healing and progression
of Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy. Smoking is a strong risk factor for age-related nuclear cataract.
However, smoking is not associated with pterygium, and its influence on dry eye symptoms, central corneal
thickness and progression of primary open glaucoma remains controversial. Smoking during pregnancy increases
risk of convergent or divergent strabismus or poor stereo acuity, however, its influence on anophtalmia, microphtalmia,
amblyopia and hyperopic refractive error is controversial.
Conclusion: Tobacco smoking plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases of anterior eye segment
leading to visual impairment in adults and children.
