Teenagers fear vision loss more than cancer

Teenagers fear blindness more than lung cancer or stroke, but nine of 10 don't know that smoking can rob them of their sight later in life, research findings have revealed.

Research findings were based on a study undertaken by the British Journal of Ophthalmology which interviewed more than 250 clubbers aged between 16 and 18 in Bournemouth, Winchester, Manchester and Southampton.

Asked to rate their fear of lung cancer, most scored it 3 out of 5, stroke 2 out of 5 but sight loss rated 4 out of 5.

Study co-author Simon Kelly, consultant ophthalmologist at the Bolton Eye Unit said: 'Our study of teenagers confirms that there is little awareness of the ocular hazards of smoking but that fear of blindness is a compelling reason to quit.'