Does smoking affect intraocular pressure? A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Tobacco smoking is linked to ocular conditions such as cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness and the second most common cause of blindness. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major, modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of tobacco smoking on IOP. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 apparently healthy males (100 smokers and 100 non-smokers) of 20–40 years were recruited. Smokers were categorized based on smoking index. IOP was recorded using Schiotz tonometer. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded using mercury sphygmomanometer. Results: Mean age of the smokers was 28.71 years and that of the non-smokers was 29.31 years. Majority of the smokers (n = 79) used cigarettes and most of them (n = 55) smoked 1–10 cigarettes per day. More than half the smokers were light smokers. Bidi smokers totalled 30 in number and 30% of them (n = 9) smoked 21–30 bidis a day. Mean IOP in the right eye and left eye in smokers was 14.68 mmHg and 15.69 mmHg, respectively, whereas they were 14.45 mmHg and 15.11 mmHg, respectively, in the non-smokers. 5% of smokers showed elevated IOP. Mean systolic BP among smokers was 119.52 mmHg and in non-smokers; it was 118.92 mmHg. Mean diastolic BP among smokers was 79.82 mmHg, whereas in non-smokers, it was 79.48 mmHg. Conclusions: Tobacco smoking is not associated with raised IOP according to our study and tobacco smokers are not at a greater risk for developing elevated IOP.