Research conducted by experts has revealed that even children as young as 6 show signs of eye damage when exposed to cigarette smoke.

Passive smoking is a known threat to eye health among adults. Many studies have linked exposure to cigarette smoke to an increased risk of eye disorders that affect people later in life, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are leading causes of blindness. One of the most vulnerable parts of the eye to cigarette smoke is the choroid. The choroid is a dense network of blood vessels located at the back of the eye. It is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the retina, and it helps maintain the eye’s temperature and volume. Studies have shown that both smokers and individuals exposed to cigarette smoke have thinner choroids. Choroidal thinning is linked to the development of AMD, which threatens vision, among other conditions.

In a study to determine whether children exposed to passive cigarette smoke showed similar damage, 1,400 children between the ages of 6 and 8 were examined. It was discovered that children who were exposed to cigarette smoke had significantly thinner choroids compared to those who were not. The difference was measured to be around 6 to 8 microns. More importantly, the data revealed that choroidal thinning in children increased with the number of smokers in the family and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Although the long-term effects of these relatively small changes on children’s future eye health have yet to be determined, this study demonstrates the potential role of early exposure to tobacco smoke in the development of chronic diseases later in life.

Over the years, smoking rates in the United States have decreased, but it remains a health risk. A 2023 survey in the U.S. found that 25.2% of the population was exposed to passive cigarette smoke, with 37.9% of children (ages 3 to 11) and adolescents (ages 12 to 19) being exposed. Experts emphasize the importance of quitting smoking around children to protect their vision and overall health.

April 2025