Optometrists can play part in prevention

Simon Kelly, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Bolton Eye Unit and co-author of new research linked to the campaign, told optician that optometrists could play a crucial role in educating the public on the risks of smoking to their sight.

'Optometrists and ophthalmologists don't provide enough information about the dangers of smoking,' he said, 'probably because of a variety of reasons: both sets of professionals may be hard-pressed for time, they might not have been trained [to do it], and there are issues surrounding payment.

'Efforts should be made to increase [professional] training and smoking cessation advice should be encouraged in optometry and ophthalmology.

'Knowledge of the link between smoking and AMD is very low but evidence from Australia and New Zealand shows that raising awareness of the link creates a powerful message for the general public.

'In my clinical experience, when people are diagnosed with AMD and learn the link with smoking they are often sufficiently shocked and motivated to want to stop smoking straight away. 

'The warnings that have gone on to cigarette packets in Australia are "smoking causes blindness" - we'd like to see something along those lines.

'I made a presentation to the all party parliamentary group on vision and eye health in July on the effect of smoking on the eye which was well received.

'We are asking government to raise awareness of the ocular hazards of smoking in addition to other concerns. The current anti-smoking campaigns on wrinkles and impotence are good, but I really think the message about smoking visual impairment would be compelling to a much wider audience.'