I think in terms of health we would all agree the answer is NO! It is a smelly, unsociable, dirty habit that has absolutely no benefits whatsoever. Well, pure nicotine does actually have a role to play in anti-aging medicine believe it or not, but I am talking about cigarettes which are full of some of the nastiest poisons known to man. You can't even use the immature argument that smoking makes you look cool anymore, maybe up to 25 years ago but now it is definitely un-cool. Smokers have become society's inconvenience publically and a drain on medical resources. Smoking is a purely selfish and destructively pointless past-time that is incredibly costly to your health and to your wallet. My simple message is don't start or if you have succumbed to this hideous habit – give up! Everyone will thank you for it.

Rant over.

Most people realize that smoking is linked to many cancers and cardiovascular diseases and conditions, but do you know what smoking does to your eyes? Researchers at The Duke University Medical Center have concluded that the tar in cigarettes has a big impact on the retina, leaving deposits and thickening it. Smoking narrows blood vessels which reduces blood flow to the eye. Two of the major problems with diabetes is diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy which are caused by poor circulation due to too much sugar in the blood stream. The blood vessels are weakened and break, bleed or contribute to a lack of sensitivity in the extremities. If you are diabetic smoker you are massively increasing an existing problem and definitely asking for serious eye health issues.

Smoking increases the production of free radicals while at the same time reducing the positive effect of antioxidants. Smoking causes cellular damage and affects the aqueous and the tissue around the eye and retina and it reduces the macular pigment that acts to protect the eyes from UV radiation.

Smoking is the greatest contributor to age-related macular degeneration and it ‘encourages' cataract formation , glaucoma, Graves ophthalmopathy and as mentioned above, diabetic retinopathy. But these eye diseases will not be limited to the smokers themselves but also to anyone in regular contact with cigarette smoke enjoying the wonders of passive or second-hand smoking!

Stub it out – your smoke is getting in our eyes!