Introduction:
Habitual smoking according to WOBASZ project was identifi ed in 42% of men and 25% women. The most common eye problems include disorders of refraction, accomodation and and of ocular muscles.

Aim:
The aim of the study was to determine the spread of eye disorders in habitual smokers and the attempt to check whether smoking may have an influence on eye disorders. Material and methods. The study was carried out in the city of Wroclaw in a group of 83 students with the use of original questionnaire based on 74 questions on: subjective symptoms connected with vision, basic optometric information, eye diseases, and environmental factors influencing on the optic system. The study group was divided into 2 subgroups: 66 non-smoking students and 17 students declaring the habitual smoking. Statistical analysis was performed with STATICTICA 6.0 package. P less than 0.05 was considered as statistically signifi cant.

Results:
In a subgroup of smokers subjective symptoms connected with vision such as headaches, vertigos were statistically significant more common in smokers (non-smokers 31% vs. smokers 40%) as well as the feeling of eye dryness and burning (non-smokers 13% vs. smokers 50%). Smokers more often wore glasses (non-smokers 31% vs. 50%) and contact lenses (non-smokers 14% vs. smokers 33%) in comparison with non-smokers. The mean value of the refraction disorder – myopia – for students wearing glasses was statistically significant higher in smokers (non-smokers –1.75 dioptres for the right and left eye and smokers –4.0 for both eyes). For students wearing contact lenses the mean value of the refraction disorder was also higher for smokers (non-smokers –2.0 dioptres for both eyes, smokers –5.0 for the right eye and –5.25 dioptres for the left eye). Stye was more commonly present in smokers in comparison with non-smokers (non-smokers 0%, smokers 27 %).

Conclusions:
The spread of eye disorders in the population of students was similar as in the whole population. Generally, disorders of the optic system were more common in habitual smokers.