How can smoking or vaping affect your eye health?

What affect does vaping have on eye health?

Vaping is a relatively new form of consuming nicotine and so there isn’t as much comprehensive research outlining the risks. E-cigarettes or vapes don’t produce tar or carbon monoxide like cigarettes do but they can have higher levels of nicotine and lots of other chemicals, some of whose effects are still unknown. 

Early indications are that vaping may also increase the risk of eye conditions including glaucoma, cataract and age-related macular degeneration in the same way that smoking cigarettes or other forms of tobacco.

Smoking and glaucoma

Research suggests that smoking can contribute to the development of glaucoma in several ways. It may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, limiting the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. The chemicals in cigarette smoke also create harmful molecules called free radicals, which trigger stress and inflammation. This can further damage the optic nerve. Heavy smoking is linked to faster disease progression and associated peripheral vision decline.

Smoking and cataract

Cataracts are a common eye problem that usually happen as we get older. However, smoking can make them develop sooner.
Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemicals that damage the clear lens inside your eye. Normally, your body uses antioxidants to protect the lens, but smoking reduces these natural defences.

As a result, the lens proteins can clump together, making the lens cloudy - this is what causes cataracts. Smoking also makes your eyes more sensitive to sunlight (UV rays) by weakening the eye’s natural protective barriers. With less protection, UV rays can cause more damage to the lens, adding to the risk. Altogether, this means smoking can increase your chances of developing cataracts earlier in life.

Smoking and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of permanent vision loss in older adults. Smoking is a key risk factor for AMD, both the ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ form. Even passive smoking or second-hand smoke, particularly if exposure is continuous or regular, can raise the risk of AMD. Researchers believe smoking may play a role in causing ‘stress’ to the macula - the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. These changes make the eye more vulnerable to the onset and progression of AMD. The disease also progresses faster in smokers, more often affects both eyes, and it is more likely to advance to wet AMD. The positive news is research also has found that ex-smokers are less likely to develop advance AMD compared to people currently smoking so smoking cessation is advisable.

If you smoke, consider taking steps today to protect your vision. Speak to your GP, pharmacist, or local stop smoking service for free support, or explore the NHS Better Health “Quit Smoking” resources. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of serious eye disease and give your eyes a brighter, healthier future.