Vaping is gaining popularity, with over 10 million people worldwide using e-cigarettes or similar products.
But what many don’t know is that vaping can actually pose risks to your eye health and lead to dry eye syndrome.
What Is Vaping
For those unfamiliar with vaping, it is the inhalation of aerosol or vapor using either a battery powered e-cigarette, vape pen, or other similar device. Attractive flavors like mango, apple pie, and mint are drawing the attention of both smokers and non-smokers.
Although vaping is typically promoted to help smokers kick the habit, an increasing number of non-smokers are getting hooked to vaping. And while traditional cigarettes are more harmful to your health than vaping, using a vape doesn’t come without risks.
Serious health problems and even some deaths have been linked to vaping. Aside from being damaging to your heart and lungs, vaping can also be detrimental to your eye health.
How Vaping Can Lead to Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when the eyes aren’t sufficiently lubricated due to insufficient tears, poor tear quality, or environmental factors. Some symptoms of dry eye syndrome are red, itchy, gritty, watery, stinging or burning eyes. In severe cases, dry eye can damage the cornea and lead to vision loss. Those who suffer from dry eye may have difficulty wearing contact lenses and may be prone to light sensitivity or blurry vision.
According to a study published in the Optometry and Vision Science journal, vaping can aggravate the eye’s corneal surface as well as cause moderate-to-severe dry eye symptoms. Vaping can also exacerbate symptoms of dry eye in people who already suffer from the condition. Researchers believe this is due to the hazardous byproducts from the chemicals in the vape’s liquid component.
The study also showed that vapers experienced a faster rate of tear breakup, compared to healthy people who don’t vape for smoke. This led to higher rates of tear evaporation. The more severe cases of eye dryness were found in vapers who used a higher voltage than those who vaped with a lower voltage.
Our Dry Eye Optometrist Can Help
If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of dry eye — whether due to vaping or another cause — we can help. Our dry eye optometrist will evaluate your eye health and offer the most effective treatment for your condition.
Why continue to suffer with dry eye? Find the relief you seek and call Premier Eye Center today to schedule your dry eye evaluation.
Premier Eye Center serves patients from Shrewsbury, New Freedom, Stewartstown, York, and throughout Pennsylvania.
VIDEO SCRIPT
Vaping is the inhalation of aerosol using a vape pen, e-cigarette, or other similar devices
Some people think that vaping is safe, when the truth is that vaping can be damaging to your heart, lungs, and eyes
Vaping can cause and exacerbate symptoms of dry eye syndrome
Symptoms like red, dry, watery, itchy, gritty eyes can all be linked to vaping
If you experience any symptoms of dry eye syndrome, get the relief you seek
Call today to schedule your dry eye evaluation
REFERENCES
- https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/effect-vaping-eyes
- https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/vaping-linked-to-worse-ocular-surface-disease#:~:text=Vaping%20can%20aggravate%20the%20ocular,in%20Optometry%20and%20Vision%20Science.&text=According%20to%20the%20researchers%2C%20hazardous,and%20worsen%20dry%20eye%20symptoms
