Although some smokers may want to consider taking such as calcium and vitamin C to help counteract the harmful effects of the habit, some may want to consider kicking the problem altogether.
A new study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that cigarette smoking increases the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of blindness for individuals over 65.
Researchers found that there was an 11 percent higher instance of AMD in women ages 78 to 83 compared to those who didnt smoke. For women who were over the age of 80, they were 5.5 times more likely to develop the disease.
“We saw a slightly higher rate of AMD in women after age 80, but the rate was dramatically higher in older women who smoked,” said Dr. Anne Coleman, the studys lead author. “The bottom line is that AMD risk increases with age. And if you smoke, your risk of developing the disease rises even more.”