Smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure: implications in ocular disorders.

Purpose: This article aims to gather and review the available knowledge on several implications of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in ocular disorders and provides pathomechanistic insights where applicable.

Materials and methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies on the association of smoking and ETS exposure with various ocular disorders. Studies with different evidence levels, e.g., in-vivo, case-control, cohort, and meta-analysis, were included.

Results: Smoking is an established, modifiable risk factor in several ocular diseases, including cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and Graves' ophthalmopathy; smokers are subject to more severe disease courses and less favorable treatment outcomes. Uveitis is twice as likely in smokers; smoking may also delay its resolution. Smoking and ETS exposure are major risk factors for diseases of other organs, with associated ocular complications as well, such as diabetes mellitus. ETS exposure is also associated with ocular surface pathologies, including dry eye syndrome. In children, early-life ETS exposure and maternal smoking during pregnancy are strongly associated with refractive errors and strabismus. Currently, available data on potential risks attributable to ETS exposure regarding ocular diseases are scarce and, in some instances, controversial.

Conclusion: In addition to smoking, ETS exposure is also a significant public health concern with possible links to several ocular diseases. However, the level of education of at-risk populations in this regard does not match the strength of the evidence.