Picture credit: Rex Features
Tobacco firms have learnt they must print 'smoking increases the risk of blindness' warnings on cigarette packets after new EU legislation.
The European Commission has adopted 14 new warnings to appear on tobacco packs, which also cover the risk of mouth and throat cancer, damage to teeth and gums and smokers' children being more likely to start smoking.
Member states have two years to introduce the warnings, but the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) called for government to implement the ruling 'as soon as possible'.
Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the RNIB, said: 'While 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.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Optician Online. Register now to access up to 10 news and opinion articles a month.
Register
Already have an account? Sign in here