Purpose: to investigate the possible changes in the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in moderate or heavy smokers using Optical Coherence Tomography with compared to nonsmoker people.

Methods: This study included 20 active chronic smokers and 20 age-matched healthy nonsmokers. After a full ophthalmological examination, Peri-papillary (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) were measured with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).

Results: Inferior and superior and nasal quadrants of RNFL were thinner in smokers, but temporal quadrants did not show significant difference between the two groups. There were no significant differences in GCL values between the two groups.

Conclusion: This study reported that the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreases in chronic, healthy, heavy cigarette smokers, and this thinning is related to duration of smoking, but the ganglion cell layer thickness in heavy smokers was similar to those of the healthy individuals.