According to a large South Korean study, individuals who switch to non combustible nicotine alternatives, such as vaping or other nicotine products, after quitting cigarettes have a slightly but consistently higher risk of developing serious eye diseases that can affect vision compared to those who completely quit nicotine.
The study was based on South Korea’s National Health Insurance data and followed 32,316 former smokers for an average of 4.6 years. Participants were divided into two groups: those who completely quit nicotine and those who used alternative nicotine products.
During the follow up period, a total of 6,328 new cases of eye diseases were reported. The incidence rate was 41.1 cases per 1,000 person years among those who completely quit nicotine, compared to 44 cases per 1,000 person-years among users of alternative nicotine products.
Analysis of the data showed that individuals using alternative nicotine products had a 7 percent higher overall risk of eye diseases. The most significant increases were observed in diabetic retinopathy, which showed a 24 percent higher risk, and in vision focusing related disorders.
The study, conducted by Korea University College of Medicine, was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
According to experts, the findings indicate that switching to alternative nicotine products after quitting smoking is not completely safe, and the better strategy is to avoid nicotine altogether.
