Decadelong study finds smoking worsens sickle cell retinopathy
Sickle cell retinopathy (SCR), a common, potentially blinding eye condition found among some people with sickle cell disease, is caused by misshapen blood cells blocking blood vessels in the light-sensing retina. In a 10-year retrospective study of adults with SCR treated at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, researchers found active smoking is a strong modifiable risk factor for…
A decade-long investigation has revealed that smoking increases the risk of sickle cell retinopathy worsening, according to a study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Sickle cell retinopathy (SCR), a prevalent eye condition affecting some individuals with sickle cell disease, occurs when deformed blood cells obstruct vessels in the retina, potentially leading to vision loss.
The research, conducted at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, involved examining 317 adults diagnosed with SCR between 2013 and 2023. The study found that active smoking, both past and present, nearly triples the likelihood of disease progression in individuals with proliferative sickle cell retinopathy compared to nonsmokers.
The findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation and regular screenings to prevent vision impairment in those with SCR.
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