The Effects of Smoking After LASIK in Dubai

The Eye Surgeon in Dubai, as well as an increasing number of eye surgeons around the world believes that smoking after LASIK can have a negative outcome and affect an individual's general eye health as well. Many studies have previously indicated that smoking is responsible in the incidence and progression of age related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract and thyroid eye disease. Recent reports show the impact that smoking has on inflammation of the eye's middle layer of tissue and it shows that tobacco smoke plays a big part in this serious eye disease as well. However, the biggest challenge is how to make sure that the general population is aware of the devastating impact that smoking has on the eye health and outcome of eye surgeries, which includes LASIK.

 

Some of the most alarming statistics on smoking is that in a quarter of all smokers in the UAE had their first cigarette before the age of 10, this figure was revealed by the Ministry of Health. Also, the Eye Clinic in Dubai, says that people in Dubai are exposed to tobacco smoke, either directly or as passive smokers with each resident being exposed to passive smoking for about five hours daily. About 67 per cent of them are exposed to passive smoking in public places. It is now a universally established fact that cigarette or tobacco smoking has been linked to death due to lung cancer and emphysema, and has also been established as a contributing factor to other diseases, including heart disease. However, many individuals are still not aware of the fact that smoking can have an indirect effect on a number of the body’s natural processes such as healing and repair. According to a recent report, the incidence of smoking is about 30% in the general population undergoing elective surgical procedures such as LASIK.

 

Smoking can harm the natural balance of the eyes as it increases the stickiness of blood cells and increasing the chances of blood vessel buildup and clogging. Blood vessel clogs, or retinal vascular occlusions can also cause vision loss. Smoking also increases the risk of blood vessel disease that develops in individuals who suffer from diabetes.

There is an increase in the evidence that shows that the relationships between various exposures and common eye diseases. Smoking is a risk factor for various types of potentially blinding eye conditions, including retinal vascular occlusions, ischemic optic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Most of these conditions can lead to partial or complete vision loss or total blindness. Therefore, smoking is considered the single most consistently documented risk factor associated with visual loss in AMD. Extensive research and studies have shown that approximately one third of the risk of developing advanced AMD could be caused by smoking and smokers are 5 times more likely to develop advanced AMD with visual loss as opposed to non-smokers.

Some of the instances where smoking could affect eye health are,

·         Chronic eye diseases, with the exception of glaucoma, are all associated with smoking.

·         Those who smoke cigarettes are at increased risk for developing cataracts, a condition where the naturally clear lens of the eye gets cloudy

·         Smoking will accelerate AMD, the leading cause of severe visual impairment and blindness

Additionally, the optic nerve is also susceptible to damage from tobacco smoke. Individuals with an unhealthy diet, smoke heavily and drink excessive amounts of alcohol run the risk of developing optic nerve-related vision loss, also called tobacco-alcohol amblyopia. Sometimes, there are instances where optic nerve issues are hereditary, individuals with this condition who smoke have an increased risk of vision loss.

The general perception is that smoking affects some of the common systems in the body like lungs, heart and blood vessels, the immune response, and tissue healing. However, research shows that the most common post-surgical complications related to smoking are impaired wound and tissue healing and wound infection. With LASIK, this could involve delayed corneal tissue healing and increased risk of eye inflammation and infection. One of the main side effects of smoking after LASIK in Dubai, as reported by patients is dry eye. Dry-eye-related symptoms are very common in smokers than non-smokers due to changes in tear proteins caused by smoking. For these individuals, smoking is a significant irritant, which makes the symptoms worse, leading to increased irritation, scratchiness, stinging or burning of the eyes, and excess tearing from irritation. Smoking also impairs immune function, leading to an increased risk of infection.

Therefore, to reduce the risk of these and other serious complications after LASIK treatment, and increase the success rate of the treatment, it is recommended that individuals quit smoking at least eight weeks before surgery and also completely give up smoking after surgery. Smoking makes recovery harder by putting increased pressure on the heart, affecting blood pressure, reducing oxygen in the blood and eye tissues and damaging the lungs.