Vaping linked to increased risk of vision-threatening disease
A Korean study found a 7% higher risk of vision-threatening disease in vape users versus quitters, especially diabetic retinopathy.Summary
A large Korean cohort study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology followed 179,273 adults who had smoked in 2011–2012 and either quit smoking or switched to non‑combustible nicotine products such as vapes by 2018–2019. Over up to six years of follow‑up, researchers tracked the onset of cataract, glaucoma, age‑related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and refractive and accommodation disorders. They observed a modest 7 % increased overall risk of vision‑threatening disease among those who switched to vapes compared with those who stopped nicotine entirely. The excess risk was most pronounced for diabetic retinopathy, where vape users had a 24 % higher incidence than quitters. The authors concluded that substituting vaping for smoking does not eliminate visual harm and that complete cessation of all nicotine products should remain the preferred goal from an ophthalmic perspective.
(Source：Association of Optometrists (AOP))
