An evaluation of the young people's knowledge regarding the ophthalmic effects of smoking.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the young people's knowledge regarding the ophthalmic effects of smoking.


METHODS
198 students (111 males and 87 females) with a mean age of 27 years old (+/- 6 years) participated in the study. A simple questionnaire was used and the participants were requested to fill out the questionnaire themselves.


RESULTS
77% (152) of the participants were smokers. 67% (130) have never heard about the adverse effect of smoking to the eyes. 87% (172) have not heard about the relationship between smoking and thyroid eye disease. 84% (166) were not aware that smoking could ccontribute to the formation of cataract. 50% (99) have no knowledge about the association between smoking and age-related macular degeneration. 80% (158) were unaware that smoking is a risk factor for visual loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of knowledge of young people regarding the ophthalmic effects of smoking is not satisfactory. There is an urgent need to promote the awareness of the population regarding the adverse effect of smoking on visual function.
Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Veria, Veria, Greece. evkanon@hotmail.com
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Kanonidou
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Konidaris
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Kanonidou
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Praidou
D000328:Adult; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires