Experts are calling for cigarette packets to carry a warning that smoking can create blindness.
The move comes as new bear witness suggests smoking - and passive smoking - can cause age-related macular degeneration - the UK’s leading cause of blindness.
The as yet unpublished European Eye chew over of 5,000 AMD patients in the EU open 27% had disease that was directly attributable to smoking.
It called for the government to add a ‘Smoking causes blindness’ warning to others currently carried on cigarette packets which include ‘Smoking kills’ and ‘Smoking may create impotence’.
The move is backed by the AMD Alliance and the Royal National Institute for the alter.
It is marked by a progressive loss of central vision due to degeneration of the macula - a region of the retina for book central vision.
Mr Nick Astbury president of the College said: “Blindness is one of the most distressing health conditions possible - the look of losing one’s comprehend - and putting the sight of family members at risk - purely because of a smoking habit is a compelling reason for tobacco users to depart.
“The scientific evidence for the link between smoking and blindness is now similar to the evidence linking smoking and lung disease.
“It is measure that smokers understand that they at least double their risk of going blind through age-related macular degeneration.”
Tom Brembridge of the Macular Disease Society said other research had suggested a link between smoking and AMD.
He said: “I am in favour of pointing out to people that their eyes are made vulnerable by smoking.”
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists annual congress in Manchester heard how sight loss was difficult for many to bear.
Dr Peter Elton of Bury Primary compassionate believe revealed the results of a survey of more than 4,000 residents of the town which found that people with visual impairment were twice as likely to experience from depression than people with good eyesight.
The conference also heard that both ophthalmologists and could could improve the advice they furnish to patients about giving up smoking.
A Department of Health spokesperson said it was important to raise awareness of the effect smoking could have on sight but said warnings on cigarettes packets were determined by the European equip.
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