Choroidal Microvasculature Changes Linked to Smoking in Glaucoma Patients

However, the impact of smoking on MvD wasn't uniform across glaucoma severity levels. In individuals with moderate to severe glaucoma (MD < −6), smoking intensity was significantly associated with larger MvD areas (0.47; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.83) for each 0.01 mm² per 10 pack-years (p=0.011). This effect was not observed in individuals with early glaucoma (MD ≥ −6), where the association was not significant (−0.08; 95% CI −0.26 to 0.11, p=0.401).

These findings raise concerns about the potential impact of smoking on the eye health of glaucoma patients. The study suggests that smoking, particularly its intensity, may contribute to larger MvD areas, especially in individuals with moderate to severe forms of the condition. The study highlights the importance of addressing smoking cessation in glaucoma management and underscores the need for further research into the relationship between smoking and eye health. Understanding these connections can aid in the development of targeted interventions to improve the eye health and overall well-being of glaucoma patients, especially those who smoke.

Reference:

Nishida, T., Micheletti, E., Latif, K., Du, K. H., Weinreb, R. N., & Moghimi, S. (2023). Impact of smoking on choroidal microvasculature dropout in glaucoma: a cross-sectional study. In BMJ Open Ophthalmology (Vol. 8, Issue 1, p. e001421). BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001421