New Delhi: Vaping is widely perceived as a “safer” alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. Vaping solutions often have much higher nicotine levels
than cigarettes. While they do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, they do have other chemicals with known and unknown negative effects. The eye is uniquely sensitive to environmental toxins due to its high oxygen consumption, dense microvascular network, exposure to oxidative stress, and dependence on tear film stability and neural signalling.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Ankit Deokar, Chief Medical Officer, Sankara Eye Hospital, Indore, spoke about the dark impact of vaping on vision.
Vape aerosols contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and flavouring chemicals, all of which can disrupt these delicate systems. From dry eye disease and retinal damage to increased risk of vision-threatening disorders, vaping introduces multiple toxic pathways that can compromise ocular function, sometimes irreversibly. Here are some of the eye problems made worse by smoking, vaping, or a combination of the two.
Dry eye
One short-term side effect is the development of dry eye. This is where the eyes do not produce sufficient moisture to keep the eyes wet. You may notice your eyes feel scratchy or itchy, are red, or hurt when you blink. You may also notice a sensitivity to light. Dry eye is treatable with prescription eye drops to lubricate the eyes and keep them moist. However, this should be used as a temporary solution while working on quitting vaping.
Increased Risk of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight because it damages vision gradually and without early warning signs. What makes vaping particularly concerning is its potential to quietly accelerate this process, especially through the effects of nicotine on eye pressure.
Nicotine, whether inhaled through cigarettes or e-cigarettes, has a direct impact on the delicate balance of fluids inside the eye. It alters the production and drainage of aqueous humour, the clear fluid that maintains eye shape and nourishes internal structures. This disruption can lead to both sudden spikes and sustained increases in intraocular pressure (IOP).
Elevated IOP is the single most important modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Even modest, repeated rises in eye pressure can gradually damage the optic nerve. The critical cable that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Once optic nerve fibres are lost, the resulting vision damage is irreversible.
The concern is even greater for younger users. Adolescence and early adulthood are periods when long-term eye health is being shaped. Regular nicotine exposure during these years may make the optic nerve more vulnerable to pressure-related damage later in life, potentially increasing the risk of earlier-onset glaucoma.
Oxidative Stress
Vape aerosols generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which imbalances the oxygen levels. This situation creates oxidative stress on ocular tissues. Over time, it can increase the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Studies show that corneal cells exposed to e-cigarette vapour exhibit reduced cell viability and increased inflammatory markers, like tobacco smoke exposure.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration tends to occur later in life. Vaping can increase the risk of this condition developing sooner in some people. The condition can either cause the retina to deteriorate (dry macular degeneration) or result in excess blood vessels growing under the retina (wet macular degeneration).
Conclusion
The notion that ‘vaping is harmless’ is increasingly being challenged by ocular science. The eye, delicate, metabolically active, and exposed, is particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of vape aerosols. What begins as mild dryness can progress to retinal disease, optic nerve damage, and irreversible vision loss.
Protecting vision begins with awareness, and quitting vaping may be one of the most important steps toward lifelong eye health.
