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Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that smokers are at least twice as likely to lose their sight in later life, if they do not quit smoking.

“Tobacco smoke damages the blood supply, thus exposing the body to free radicals which results in poor circulation to vital organs, including the eye,” Duque explained.

Also, smoking can lead to cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), degradation of night vision, worsening of diabetic retinopathy, and increased risk for permanent ischemic injury to the retina and optic nerve.

Presently, the latest DOH survey reveals that there are now 456,694 persons affected with bilateral blindness. Of these total, 283,150 are afflicted with cataract, 3,735 cases of glaucoma and 1,868 both for retinopathy and maculopathy.

Duque added that smoking, including second hand smoke, oxidizes cholesterol causing fat build up in the arteries. Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke also creates oxygen deficiency. All these factors predispose a smoker to heart attack, stroke, defects in fetuses, lung and mouth cancer and many other diseases now strongly linked to smoking.