Campaigns

Smoking and sight loss

Summary: Research proves the link between smoking and age-related macular degeneration.

• England went smoke free on 1 July 2007
• Smoking Ban - Wales
• Smoking and sight loss - teenagers
• World No Tobacco Day
• RNIB Scotland roadshow
• The facts about smoking and AMD
• A call for action
• Stop smoking today
• Get an eye test
• Research and further information
• Party conferences

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England went smoke free on 1 July 2007

From 1 July 2007, virtually all enclosed public spaces in England became ‘smokefree’ by law. This means it is illegal to smoke inside workplaces, pubs, bars, restaurants, even within company cars. Anyone who smokes in a SmokeFree place could face an on the spot fine of £50 (or £200 if the matter goes to court).

Smoking Ban - Wales

The smoking ban came into force in Wales on 2 April 2007 with lighting up prohibited in all enclosed public places. Fines of £50 will be given to those who smoke in most public premises including restaurants, pubs, bars and shopping centres. Smoking rooms in offices have also been banned. The Welsh Assembly predicts that lives will be saved as people are protected from passive smoking, which kills around 400 people in Wales every year.

The ban was extended to Northern Ireland on 30 April 2007. The Scottish ban came into force in March 2006.

Smoking and sight loss - teenagers

RNIB calls for warnings to teenagers on the link between smoking and blindness. Recent research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology confirms that the fear of blindness is an effective way of encouraging young people to give up smoking.

World No Tobacco Day

RNIB, as part of the AMD Alliance Europe, were in Brussels on 30 May 2006 as part of World No Tobacco Day. We were promoting awareness of the link between smoking and blindness. AMD is the most common cause of vision loss for people over the age of 55 in the EU.

RNIB Scotland roadshow

In 2006 RNIB Scotland took the smoking and sight loss message on the road! The campaign message - “Double your chances of sight loss. Smoke!” was screened on a giant video wall visiting venues around Scotland, and was seen by nearly three million people.

The facts about smoking and AMD

13 million smokers in the UK are doubling their chances of sight loss in later life according to definitive new research published on RNIB Eye Test Action Day (7 September 2005).

The link between smoking and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is now as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer, yet few people are aware of the link or even of AMD.

AMD is the UK’s leading cause of sight loss. Around 500,000 people in the UK have AMD and an estimated 54,000 people have the condition as a result of smoking.

A new report published by AMD Alliance UK, reveals that only seven per cent of people know that AMD affects the eyes, but that seven out of ten smokers would either stop smoking permanently or cut down if they thought it could harm their eyesight.

The benefits of quitting smoking are very real. Studies have shown that people who stopped smoking 20 years ago have a similar risk of developing AMD as non-smokers, and that the risk starts to decrease after ten years of not smoking.

A call for action

Steve Winyard, RNIB’s Head of Campaigns and Chairman of AMD Alliance UK, said: “Smoking is the only proven cause of AMD that people can do anything about, yet people are not aware of the link and most people have not even heard of the condition. The message is simple: do not take up smoking and if you do – stop!

"RNIB is calling on the Government to introduce specific warnings on cigarette packets and to fund a major public awareness campaign on the dangers of smoking to your eyesight. RNIB is also joining the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in supporting a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces across the UK.”

Simon Kelly, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Bolton Eye Unit and co-author of the research published today, would also like to see warnings on cigarette packets. He said: "Knowledge of the link between smoking and AMD is very low but evidence from Australia and New Zealand shows that raising awareness of this link creates a powerful message for the general public. A survey amongst patients in Bolton suggests that fear of blindness is as compelling as fear of lung cancer and heart disease as a motivator to quit. In my clinical experience when people are diagnosed with AMD and learn of the link with smoking they are often sufficiently shocked and motivated to want to stop smoking straight away.”

Pauline Edwards was diagnosed with AMD and told about the link with smoking. As she had smoked most of her adult life, she was very shocked. "If I had been told that I could lose my sight because of smoking I am sure I would have given up. I stopped the day I found out.” Pauline's full story

Stop smoking today

Smokers wanting friendly help and advice on how to quit can ring Quitline on 0800 00 22 00 and speak to a trained QUIT counsellor. Alternatively email stopsmoking@quit.org.uk for a same day personal reply. A free QUIT pack is also available to all smokers wanting to stop.

Download our smoking and sight loss factsheet for further information about the links between AMD and smoking:

• PDF version of smoking and sight loss factsheet (39KB)
• Word version of smoking and sight loss factsheet (23KB).

Encourage your friends to give up smoking. Send an eCard to spread the message.

Get an eye test

Getting a regular eye test will check your eyes are healthy – a simple eye test can save your sight. NHS sight tests are available free to people under 16 or under 19 in full time education and to people over 60. People who are on benefits and low incomes are also eligible. Glaucoma sufferers and their close relatives over 40, diabetics and people who are registered severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted) also qualify. Vouchers are available to assist with the cost of glasses.

RNIB recommends full eye tests for children under the age of 16 and adults over 60 every year, other adults should have a test once every two years unless advised otherwise by their optician.

Research and further information

The full report containing the research findings is written by the AMD Alliance. It raises awareness of AMD and associated risk factors.

Dr Kelly's research about smoking and sight loss is published in 'The Eye', the journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

See our guide to understanding age-related macular degeneration for further information about the condition.

Party conferences

We raised awareness about the link between smoking and sight loss at the 2005 party conferences. We also launched a parliamentary campaign in November 2005 to lobby the Government to add warnings about the link between smoking and sight loss to cigarette packs and to make sight loss an integral message within public education campaigns on the dangers of smoking.

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 27/03/2008 12:24