A team of University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) scientists in the USA have shown that smoking increases a person’s risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of blindness in Americans over age 65. Studying women age 78 and higher, the researchers found that while AMD increased slightly in non-smokers over age 80, smokers in the same age range were 5.5 times more likely to be afflicted.

Dr. Anne Coleman, UCLA professor of ophthalmology and study lead said, “The take-home message is that it's never too late to quit smoking...

Even older people's eyes will benefit from kicking the habit.” Our accolades Professor Coleman and colleagues for this study that so clearly highlights the way to preserve both health and eyesight.

Wishing everyone freedom from such harmful substances to welcome new chapters of restored vision and vitality.  

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/03/content_12745201.htm
http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2010/01/02/quitting-smoking-may-save-your-vision/
http://www.themoneytimes.com/featured/20100102/blindness-another-reason-quit-smoking-id-1095742.html
http://topnews.us/content/29489-quit-smoking-save-your-eyesight
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/01/135_58381.html