People who switch to vaping or other non-combustible nicotine products after quitting cigarettes may still face a higher risk of developing serious eye diseases than those who quit nicotine completely.
The research, conducted by Korea University College of Medicine (South Korea), analyzed national health insurance data from 32,316 former smokers who were followed for an average of 4.6 years.
The findings were published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Participants were divided into two groups: those who quit nicotine entirely and those who continued using alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.
During the study period, researchers recorded 6,328 new cases of eye disease. The incidence rate was 41.1 cases per 1,000 person-years among people who completely quit nicotine, compared with 44 cases per 1,000 person-years among those using nicotine alternatives.
After analyzing the data, researchers found that users of alternative nicotine products had a 7 percent higher overall risk of developing eye diseases.
The strongest association was observed for diabetic retinopathy, a serious diabetes-related eye condition, with users of nicotine alternatives facing a 24 percent higher risk. They also showed an increased risk of disorders affecting the eye’s ability to focus.
Total blindness wasn’t quoted as a possibility but could appear in rare cases.
Researchers said the results suggest that switching from cigarettes to vaping or other nicotine alternatives may not eliminate the risk of eye disease.
They added that completely stopping nicotine use may offer greater protection for long-term eye health.
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