Quitting smoking reduces the risk of cataracts

Smokers have to be operated on by almost half more often
Veil vision, loss of contrast, reduced light-dark adjustment, limitation in spatial vision and changes in visual acuity - the symptoms of cataract significantly reduce the quality of life affected. Although the gray star is one of the typical geriatric diseases, the risk of developing it can be significantly reduced by smokers: For those who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day requires, according to a Swedish study by almost half more frequently (+ 42%) surgery of the Gray stars like nonsmokers. The study was carried out by the University of Örebro and the organization COSM (Cohort of Swedish Men) in which 44,000 Swedes participated over a period of 10 years. It also showed that after a stop smoking in 20 years, the additional risk for surgery could be halved again.

Smoking increases the risk of cataracts. Picture: mmphoto - fotolia

"Obviously, the eye lens can regenerate after quitting smoking," says Ophthalmologist. Robert Löblich from the Artemis Eye Clinic Frankfurt. A secured drug therapy for the regression of lens opacities does not yet exist. In order to achieve an improvement of the sight, adjusting the glasses often helps at the beginning of the cataract. Anyone who feels that they are doing well in their day-to-day tasks and who does not impair the slightly worse view can often live well with the cataract for several years. "One indication that surgery needs to be done is, for example, the increase in glare sensitivity when driving a car," adds Dr. Commendable. This is often a sign that there are further restrictions on the patient in the future. For people who are actively involved in road traffic or who have special job requirements, an operation may be needed sooner.

Today, cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgeries, with approximately 650,000 surgeries per year. If there are no other eye diseases in addition to the cataract, the procedure is almost always successful. In addition, it hardly strains the patient and is usually painless. "During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is surgically removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial lens," explains Dr. Commendable. There are several lens models available for patients: While conventional monofocal lenses only relieve cataracts, so-called multifocal lenses or toric lenses also correct other refractive errors. If the lens exchange is conventional lenses, statutory health insurance companies bear the costs. If patients with defective vision, in addition to correcting the cataract, correct other eyesight problems, ophthalmologists implant multifocal lenses. Here the health insurance takes over part of the costs. However, despite advances in ophthalmology, it is still best if the disease does not break out - smoking cessation is a good prerequisite. (Pm)