Teen smokers risk blindness

The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) has warned that young people who smoke are risking blindness in later life.

The charity has called upon the government to fund a national advertising campaign highlighting the link between sight loss and smoking.  The RNIB says it has research which indicates that losing their sight is an effective deterrent against teenagers smoking.  Research published in The British Journal of Ophthalmology reported that young clubbers were more afraid of blindness than any other side effect caused by the habit.

The study of teenage smokers also found that of the 20% of young women and 15% of young males who smoked, only 2% of them knew that smoking increased the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of blindness in the UK.  The RNIB has warned that those who smoke double their risk of developing the condition.

RNIB campaigns manager, Barbara McLaughlan said, "The problem with anti-smoking campaigns targeted at teenagers is that they feel they're invincible. It really is important that the link between smoking and blindness becomes common knowledge."

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