The Connection Between Smoking or Vaping and Poor Eye Health

A Preventable Threat to Healthy Vision

E-cigarettes and vapes have become a popular replacement for smoking tobacco cigarettes, but the associated health risks are still severe. You may already know that smoking cigarettes and vaping can lead to lung cancer, but these practices can also cause a variety of eye-related health concerns. At Better Vision New Jersey, we want to emphasize the importance of maintaining eye health if you engage in harmful habits.

Why You Should Stop Smoking

Even though the number of middle and high school-aged students using vapes has decreased, it is still estimated that 1.63 million students in the United States vape. It’s important that you know the dangers smoking and vaping can have on your eyes, even if you aren’t the one partaking in it. Expressing those dangers to your children can dissuade them from participating, leading to healthy aging eyes for everyone.

The Risks of Consistent Smoking and Vaping

There are multiple diseases and infections that people who smoke and vape are more susceptible to than non-smokers. Even years after quitting, the risk is still prevalent.

Some of these risks include:

• Oxidative damage: This occurs when the free radicals exposed to your body and the antioxidants in your body are imbalanced, causing cell damage. The issues from this can be caused by cigarette smoke and even pollution, possibly leading to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases later on.

• Macular degeneration: Smoking can accelerate the development of age-related eye conditions. An example of this is macular degeneration, which consists of either the retina deteriorating or blood vessels growing underneath it.

• Redness, blurry vision, dry eyes: Vapors and smoke released from vapes, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes can irritate the eyes, causing redness, blurry vision, and dry eyes, which take time and energy to treat and heal. In some cases, exposure to these can lead to conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Other Related Dangers

• Vape explosions: Although not highly common, it is possible that vapes and e-cigarettes can explode. This poses an incredible danger as these tobacco cigarette alternatives are often near the eyes. Explosions from malfunctioning devices can cause serious eye-related injuries that require immediate medical attention and hospitalization.
• Ingestion of chemicals: Purchasing vapes and e-cigarettes from unregulated vendors, something many underage people resort to, leads to the potential of ingesting unknown harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be highly hazardous to your lungs and those of the people around you, and may be more toxic than you realize, raising concerns about your future health.
• Exposing others to potential dangers: Whether or not you partake in vaping, e-cigarettes, or smoking in public, the threat of not knowing who may be exposed is just as crucial. By smoking, you could expose family, children, or those with preexisting lung conditions to secondhand smoke, potentially endangering them with the same conditions listed above.

Ways To Quit Smoking and Vaping

Even though quitting smoking or vaping can be a long process, it will benefit your health as well as that of those around you. There are multiple ways to get support and motivation on your journey to quitting nicotine addiction.

• Make a plan by working with loved ones and diverting your urges with chewing gum, a fidget cube, or exercise
• Sign up for smoke-free texting programs
• Learn how to cope with stress and cravings
• Download smoke-free apps to guide your quitting plan

For more resources on becoming smoke-free, visit smokefree.gov. If quitting smoking or vaping isn’t something you plan on doing, Better Vision New Jersey is here to help treat any conditions that arise either from smoking or not.

Contact Better Vision New Jersey!

At Better Vision New Jersey, we want to stress how smoking or vaping could possibly jeopardize the safety of your eyes and the importance of eye health. If symptoms from smoking, such as dry eyes, persist for longer than a few weeks, contact Better Vision New Jersey to look into the treatments we offer. Don’t hesitate to call 908-276-3030 to schedule a visit today or ask any questions; your eyes will thank you!