open research results E-cigarette smokers nearly double their risk of blindness due to chemicals in e-cigarettes destroy the fat layer of tears, causing inflammation, risk of dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration
On April 8, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruengrudee Patanavanich, Department of Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Published research from the American Journal of Ophthalmology. March 2022 issue, looking at the relationship between e-cigarettes and visual impairment. which is the research of the Department of Ophthalmology The study was based on the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data in a population aged 18 years and over, 2016-2018, totaling 1,173,646. To analyze the relationship between e-cigarette smokers and visual impairment. (blindness or severe visual impairment even with eyeglasses) by controlling for other health risk factors affecting visual impairment, such as age, gender, race, income, body mass index, alcohol use history, mental health, and regular smoker which the study found People who smoke e-cigarettes are more likely to have visual impairment than non-smokers. If considering only the group of people who have never had a history of regular smoking before It was found that people who smoke e-cigarettes have a 1.96-fold increased risk of visual impairment than those who do not smoke e-cigarettes.
“The research team has assumed the causes of e-cigarettes to cause vision loss for 3 reasons: 1. caused by polypropylene. Glycol is a key ingredient in electronic cigarette liquids. Produce free radicals that destroy the fat layer of the tears (tear film), causing tears of poor quality. Can’t maintain eye moisture Lead to inflammation, dry eyes, irritation. 2. Electronic cigarettes cause an imbalance between free radicals and the anti-oxidation system in the body. which was found to increase the chance of cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration The blood supply to the eyes and optic nerve is reduced. Increase the risk of glaucoma,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruengruedi.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruengruedi said recently there were reports of a 22-year-old patient in the United States with a five-year history of e-cigarette smoking on average, at least five times a day, with no history of regular smoking. before Was diagnosed with “eye cancer” came to the doctor with blurred vision. It was originally thought to be caused by a virus infection. but the treatment did not improve until found to have eye cancer This disease is not common, especially in young people. This doctor assumed that it was probably a result of smoking e-cigarettes because no other risk factors were found. So I would like to leave it to people who smoke e-cigarettes or want to try that e-cigarettes are more dangerous than they thought.
Prof. Dr. Prakit Watisathakakit, president of the Campaign for No Smoking Foundation, said that research studies on the dangers of e-cigarettes have continued to increase, although e-cigarettes have been widespread for only 15 years. Electricity is less dangerous than regular cigarettes. Because in the case of regular cigarettes, it takes more than 100 years of research to know that smoking causes lung cancer. In the past, tobacco companies did not accept and tried to pervert the dangers of cigarettes all along. until the United States Court of Justice Judge that cigarette companies hide the truth about the dangers of cigarettes and target youth marketing So I want the society to help us watch that history is repeating itself as cigarette companies and e-cigarette advocacy networks are trying to misrepresent e-cigarettes as less harmful for business gain.