How Does Smoking Affect The Eyes?

You're only twice as likely to develop age related macular degeneration if you're a smoker, not four, and although 25% of AMD cases are due to smoking genetics and diabetes play a larger role. Plus once you have AMD you don't automatically go blind its takes months for it to reach its maximum degeneration level of the retina and even then many simply have loss of vision in the centre of their eye, like a black spot directly in front of them.
I don't know about cataracts but its definitely a cause.
On the plus side viagra never showed a link to blindness nor did it make already present AMD worse :)

Chemicals in the smoke damage and thin the layer protecting your eyes, similar to the effects of conjunctivitis, leaving your eyes feeling dry, itchy and very irritated.

I've been suffering from this condition for over a year now, it's not pleasant.

Smoking is prevalent among teenagers now. All that is written on the cigarette is that cigarette smoking is injurious to health. What is not mentioned is that it is very harmful for human sight.

There is growing evidence of the effects of smoking on vision. And these effects can be very significant. Cigarette smoking enhances oxidants which are chemical byproducts in our body. Oxidants can damage cells, including those in the eyes. The links between smoking and eye diseases is strong, including cataracts and age related macular degeneration.

Believe it, smoking increases the chance of your getting blind by up to four times, due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is irreversible and is a progressive eye condition in which the central part of the retina (macula) is damaged.