Cigarette smoking
Macular degeneration can be triggered by environmental factors such as smoke, pollution, and cigarette consumption. According to recent studies, smoking increases the risk of blindness among the elderly. According to two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October 1996, the risk of developing macular degeneration increases with the quantity and duration of smoking.
The number of chemical compounds and protective nutrients delivered to the eye by the blood can be increased by smoking. With a decrease in protective nutrients, the likelihood of eye deterioration increases. Several studies have also shown that smoking decreases the amount of blood and oxygen in the eye.
These findings demonstrate a correlation between smoking and AMD. Smoking is also known to decrease macular pigment density by inhibiting the effect of antioxidants, and oxidants can cause injury to the retina.
