The effects of cigarette smoking on intraocular pressure and arterial blood pressure of normotensive young Nigerian male adults

Abstract

Summary:This study was designed to determine the effects of cigarette Smoking on intra ocular pressure and arterial blood pressure of normotensive young male adults. Fifty male students (who met the screening conditions and devoid of obvious ocular pathology and systemic diseases and nonsmokers) had their intra ocular pressure (IOP) measured with a schiotz tonometer and blood pressure(BP) measured with standard syphgmomanometer respectively prior to smoking of two sticks of cigarette each day for one month and thereafter. The result showed a significant (P< 0.01] effect on the intra ocular pressure with a mean control of 37.760.98 for both eyes and test of 41.930.98. Cigarette smoking increased the blood pressure from mean control of 197.240.88 to 208.460.82. The increase of both intra ocular pressure and arterial blood pressure was due to nicotine, the principal constituent of cigarette. It is recommended that health care workers should check regularly the IOP and BP of their cigarette smoking patients for early diagnoses of ocular hypertension (glaucoma) and hypertension.

Prevalence of ocular surface disease symptoms and risk factors in group of university students in Monterrey, Mexico

“…It has been shown that smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration [21], glaucoma [22] and among others. The Beaver Dam study related active smoking (or smoking history) with a higher prevalence of dry eye [23].…”

Assessment of Tear Film Quality among Smokers Using Tear Ferning Patterns

“…Also, cigarette smoking is associated with malignant, respiratory, and cardiovascular life threatening diseases [16]. Moreover, smoking reduces the blood flow which aids blood clots formation within the ocular blood capillaries [17]. Such clots prevent the flow of essential nutrients needed to keep the eye healthy [17].…”

The effect of smoking on the ocular surface and the precorneal tear film

“…3 People who smoke cigarettes are at an increased risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Grave's ophthalmopathy, and optic neuritis. 4 Different epidemiological studies conducted shows that there is a dose response relation ship between smoking and development of nuclear cataract. 15 Studies have shown that the cessation of smoking reduces the risk of nuclear opacity, but these findings are not conclusive.…”

“…2 Smoking also affects the eyes, the toxins associated with smoking decrease blood flow or aid in the formation of clots within ocular capillaries, thus cutting off vital nutrients that are essential for eye health. 3,4 Free radicals that are produced because of smoking impair the normal functionality of the cells and have been reported to cause ocular diseases. 3 People who smoke cigarettes are at an increased risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Grave's ophthalmopathy, and optic neuritis.…”