Vaping now linked to increased risk of vision impairment and blindness, study finds

Transitioning from cigarettes to vapes — rather than quitting nicotine completely — is linked to a higher risk of developing severe eye diseases that can ultimately lead to blindness. A sweeping Korean study found that swapping cigarettes for high-nicotine vapes, which are touted as a healthier alternative, raises the odds of diabetic retinopathy and other vision-damaging conditions, compared to quitting nicotine completely. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness in people with diabetes by damaging the retina’s blood vessels, while refractive disorders, which can affect anyone, such as astigmatism and farsightedness, cause blurred vision. The broader category includes cataracts, or clouding of the lens; glaucoma, which involves optic nerve damage; and age-related macular degeneration, which involves deterioration of the central retina, all of which can cause significant vision loss. The culprit, researchers suspect, is the nicotine itself. Even without the tar and toxins of burning tobacco, nicotine in vapes constricts blood vessels, reduces oxygen flow to sensitive tissues and fuels chronic inflammation, taking a toll on the eyes over time. Over the nearly five-year study period, researchers documented 6,328 major eye disease events. Complete nicotine quitters had the lowest rate at 41 cases of eye diseases per 1,000 person-years, while vapers saw that number rise to 44. The study did not include a rate for people who kept smoking cigarettes. Overall, switching to vapes was associated with a seven percent increased risk of serious eye disease compared to quitting nicotine completely. (Daily Mail)