The notion that switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is a healthier option may be a misconception, according to a recent nationwide study.
Researchers analyzed health data from a group of 179,273 adults who had previously smoked traditional cigarettes and then quit by 2018 or 2019.
The study divided participants into two categories: those who quit using all nicotine products and those who transitioned to smokeless nicotine products, such as vapes.
The researchers followed the participants for an average of 4.6 years to determine whether they developed eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and focus-related eyesight disorders.
Over the tracking period, the group experienced a total of 6,328 major eye disease events.
The study revealed that people who quit nicotine entirely had the lowest disease rate, at 41.1 cases per 1,000 person-years.
In comparison, those who switched to alternative nicotine products like vapes had a 44 cases per 1,000 person-years.
The data showed that switching to alternative nicotine products carried a steady 7% increased risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine completely.
The risks were even more pronounced for certain conditions, including a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
The study's findings suggest that replacing cigarettes with alternative nicotine products may not eliminate the risk of certain eye diseases.
The researchers acknowledged that their study had limitations, including the reliance on self-reported data and the inability to definitively prove that vaping directly causes eye damage.
