Ophthalmic surgeon talked about the effects of vaping on the eyes

The use of vapes can lead to the development of dry eye syndrome and dysfunction of the meibomian glands. Elina Santoro, an ophthalmologist at the federal network of 3Z clinics, told Izvestia on February 20.

E—cigarette aerosols have an additional point of contact with the body - the surface of the eye, including the cornea and mucous membrane. According to the expert, the impact can be either intentional, related to the smoking process, or accidental. For example, if refueling liquid gets into your eyes or if there are incidents with the devices themselves.

As the doctor notes, usually the negative effect is manifested through typical symptoms of irritation. Users may experience dryness, burning, itching, and a feeling of sand in their eyes. There may also be redness, increased lacrimation, photophobia, periodic blurred vision, headaches, and fatigue when reading or working at a monitor.

In addition, the systemic use of vapes can lead to the development of dry eye syndrome, in which the stability of the tear film is disrupted. For example, e-cigarette lovers have significantly more pronounced dryness symptoms than non-smokers. Vaping helps to increase the manifestations of this disease, making the discomfort chronic.

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Another serious problem is the dysfunction of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for the production of the lipid layer of the tear film. If their work is disrupted, the tear evaporates faster. As the doctor emphasizes, there is a direct relationship between the severity of these changes and the experience of vaping, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of tears.

"The surface of the eye is very sensitive to any aerosols and irritants, and vapor from electronic cigarettes is no exception. Vaping users are more likely to experience complaints typical of dry eye syndrome. These symptoms are often associated with instability of the tear film, and the discomfort can become chronic. If the symptoms become regular, it is worth visiting an ophthalmologist as early as possible: the problem can usually be identified and brought under control at an early stage of the development of dangerous pathologies," Santoro said.

As the specialist emphasized, in order to reduce risks, it is recommended to limit exposure to irritants and observe eyelid hygiene. If you experience severe pain, burn signs, or sudden visual impairment after using the device, you should immediately seek qualified medical attention. If vaping liquid gets into the eyes, it can cause acute tissue damage that requires urgent intervention.

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On April 17, immunologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences Nikolay Kryuchkov said that regular smoking of vapes provokes a cough, to which a feeling of lack of air is added over time. The immunologist added that later there is a respiratory disorder, in fact, a person experiences shortness of breath.

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