Young tobacco and e-cigarette users report more eye symptoms

A North American study found more reported ocular symptoms among dual users of tobacco and e-cigarettes than among exclusive users of either tobacco or e-cigarettes.

The consequences of smoking on the eye health have already been demonstrated, those of vaping and the dual use of tobacco and e-cigarettes are not yet clearly established. A study conducted by Canadian and American researchers attempted to fill this gap.

From May 6 to 14, 2020, researchers conducted an online study of 4,351 young Americans aged 13 to 24, including nearly 64 women.[1]Participants were divided into lifetime smokers, lifetime vapers, lifetime dual users of tobacco and e-cigarettes, and those who had never smoked or vaped. They were also asked to report any eye problems they had experienced.

More eye symptoms experienced by dual users

While eye health was reported as good (44.5 %) or excellent (40.8 %) by most participants, it was perceived as poor or very poor by nearly 15 % of respondents. Eye discomfort and discomfort were reported as more frequent and more severe by dual users of tobacco and e-cigarettes, who were ahead of exclusive smokers, who in turn were ahead of exclusive e-cigarette users. People who had never smoked or vaped reported the fewest eye symptoms.

This trend was accentuated by frequency of use: dual users of tobacco and e-cigarettes in the past 7 days reported more symptoms (dryness, stinging, redness, itching, discomfort, glare, blurred vision, pain, eye strain, headache) than all other participants. Exclusive smokers who reported smoking in the past 30 days experienced the most severe blurred vision. Dual users of tobacco and e-cigarettes experienced more symptoms (the same symptoms as previously discussed except for itching and eye strain) than all other participants. Even when they experienced no symptoms, exclusive e-cigarette users were more often concerned about their eye health.

The free radical and oxidative stress trail

Since the study was observational and cross-sectional, and the data were purely declarative, the authors do not consider themselves able to establish a causal link between eye problems and the use of tobacco and/or e-cigarettes; they prefer to remain cautious on this subject while awaiting further research. As a hypothesis, they assume that the free radicals emitted during the consumption of cigarettes or e-cigarettes would be at the origin of the oxidative stress that would cause these multiple ocular symptoms.

Keywords: Eye health, cigarette, electronic cigarettes, dual use.

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[1] Nguyen AX, Gaiha SM, Chung S, Halpern-Felsher B, Wu AY. Ocular Symptoms in Adolescents and Young Adults With Electronic Cigarette, Cigarette, and Dual Use. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online August 31, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.3852

National Committee Against Smoking |