Smoking risk
The European Commission has adopted the health warning "smoking increases the risk of blindness" to be printed on tobacco products and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is now calling for the Government to implement the ruling as soon as possible (1).
RNIB has been campaigning for the health warning to be included on tobacco packets since 2006. RNIB has worked with partners, including the UK's Royal College of Ophthalmologists, to convince the European Commission and EU governments of the necessity to introduce this new
warning (2).
Warning
For several years, RNIB has been warning the public about the link between smoking and sight loss but many people still fail to understand the risks.
Steve Winyard, Head of Campaigns at RNIB, said: "Whilst people are generally aware that smoking causes cancer, they don't realise that they are gambling with their eyesight. People who smoke not only double the risk of developing AMD - the UK's leading cause of blindness, they also tend to develop it earlier than non-smokers do.
"We hope by including this health warning on tobacco packets it will hammer home the message that smoking can cause blindness and prevent people from losing their sight unnecessarily."
EU governments now have up to two years to introduce the new written health warnings on tobacco products but RNIB hopes that the UK will be among the first countries to act to help prevent avoidable sight loss.
-END-
Notes to Editors:
For more information contact RNIB press office on 020 7391 2223 or email pressoffice@rnib.org.uk
(1) The smoking health warning is one of 14 new health warnings adopted by the European Commission. The decision amends a previous EC directive concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products.
(2) RNIB's campaign partners include: The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the European Blind Union, European members of the AMD Alliance, the European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO), the European Regional Council of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the European Network for Smoking Prevention (ENSP)
Facts about smoking and sight loss
Do health warnings about smoking and sight loss work?
Campaigns about the link between smoking and blindness in Australia and New Zealand have shown how effective these warnings are in convincing people to give up smoking. Not only has there been an increased number of calls to 'quit smoking' helplines following the screening of such TV advertisements in those countries, but a survey carried out on behalf of the AMD Alliance International also showed that awareness of the link between smoking and sight loss is significantly higher in Australia (77%) than in any of the other countries surveyed.
How does smoking affect your sight?
Smoking doubles your risk of sight loss. Tobacco chemicals damage the blood vessels behind your eyes and increase your risk of developing Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Research shows that the risk to your sight is increased by anything from two to four times. Smoking is also associated with other eye diseases including nuclear cataract.
What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?
Age Related Macular Degeneration is the UK's leading cause of sight loss. There are around 500,000 people in the UK with AMD and an estimated 54,000 people have the condition as a result of smoking. Smoking is the only proven cause of AMD that people can do anything about but most people are not aware of the link and have not heard of the condition.
What happens if I stop smoking?
The good news is that if you stop smoking the risk of losing your sight decreases over time. Research has shown that people who stopped smoking 20 years ago have a similar risk of developing AMD as non-smokers.
Why are regular eye tests important?
A regular eye test is a vital health check - it can help detect eye diseases before you notice any effect on your sight. Early treatment can often prevent your sight from getting worse. We recommend that you have an eye test at least once every two years or more often if advised by a health professional. A contact lens check is not the same as a full eye test. Contact lens wearers need regular eye tests as well as contact lens checks.
For more information about smoking and sight loss contact the Royal National Institute of Blind People on 0303 123 9999 www.rnib.org.uk