Source: Fox News
Summary
A nationwide study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that switching from traditional cigarettes to electronic vapes may increase the risk of serious eye diseases. Researchers analyzed health data from 179,273 adults who quit smoking between 2011 and 2012 and found that those who switched to smokeless alternatives had a 7% higher risk of serious eye diseases compared to those who quit nicotine completely. The study also found a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and a 7% higher risk of developing refractive and accommodation disorders among those who switched to vapes.
Our Reading
The advice sounds familiar.
Studies on the health effects of e-cigarettes continue to emerge, often with conflicting results. This latest study suggests that switching to vapes may not be the healthier alternative many thought. The findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless. The researchers’ conclusion that replacing cigarettes with alternative nicotine products may not eliminate the risk of certain eye diseases is a reminder that the long-term effects of vaping are still not fully understood.
As the debate on the health effects of vaping continues, one thing is certain: the guidelines and recommendations surrounding e-cigarettes will likely continue to shift.
It’s a familiar pattern: a new study emerges, and the guidance changes.
Author: Evan Null
