Can You Vape While Wearing Lenses?

Posted on 21 January 2025 |

In line with declining smoking rates around the world, more and more cigarette smokers are switching to vaping products to minimize the adverse health effects of tobacco. However, vaping can still come with health risks and disadvantages, including chest pain.

Due to the inhalation of nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), additives, flavorings, and other chemicals found in e-liquids, vape users may experience pain and discomfort in the chest area. While chest pains can affect your breathing, heart rate, and overall mood, you can reduce their risk by considering the proper e-liquid, device, and vaping technique.

Since vaping can expose your eyes to the same chemicals, you may also wonder whether it is safe to use if you wear corrective lenses, such as contact lenses.

Data shows that about 45 million Americans wear contact lenses for seamless, clear vision, making it crucial to understand how vaping may affect contact lens wearers and their overall eye health.

How Vaping May Affect Contact Lens Wearers

While vaping’s health effects are different from smoking due to the absence of tar or carbon monoxide as byproducts, researchers have noted its particular consequences on eye health. For instance, a systematic review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that vaping can expose the ocular surface to nicotine and other chemicals found in e-cigarettes. Exposure may vary from acute to chronic, affecting different ocular structures, such as the surface and epithelia of the cornea, conjunctiva, the tear film, and the lacrimal gland.

Since these components are responsible for blinking and tear production, vaping-related changes in their structure and functioning have been associated with an increased risk of dry eyes and ocular irritation. This risk can be exacerbated by wearing contact lenses, as the eyewear can limit oxygen flow in the ocular surface and disrupt tear film stability and quality.

Contact lenses can also correct poor vision caused by progressive eye diseases like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. However, vaping can worsen these conditions by deteriorating the retina and accelerating abnormalities in the eye’s blood vessels. In other words, there is no conclusive evidence that vaping directly harms contact lens wearers, but it may increase the risk of the development and progression of various eye conditions.

The following section guides you through minimizing these vaping-related risks to continue enjoying the comfort and convenience of wearing contact lenses.

Reminders For Vapers Who Wear Contact Lenses

Choose Comfortable Contact Lenses

While it is ideal to quit vaping to reduce the risk of dry eyes and other ocular symptoms, you can also manage eye health risks by carefully choosing your contact lenses. Vision Direct’s selection of contact lenses includes prescription options from brands like Acuvue and Everclear, which reduce the risk of dryness and irritation through soft, porous lens materials like silicone hydrogel. In addition to its wide range of contact lenses that meet your preferred wear times and single-vision, toric, or multifocal prescriptions, the retailer offers streamlined re-orders and automatic order reminders for long-term wearers.

Invest In Eye Care Products

You can also invest in eye care products that relieve ocular symptoms by continuing to wear contact lenses without stopping vaping altogether. A notable example is the Visine Dry Eye Relief solution, which moisturizes and soothes dry eyes by lubricating the ocular surface. Aside from hydrating eye drops, leading manufacturer Bausch + Lomb has developed the over-the-counter supplement Blink NutriTears to provide long-lasting relief and target the root causes of dry eye. It promotes optimal tear production through eye-healthy nutrients like vitamin D, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Consider Vaping Habits

Lastly, evaluating your vaping habits can help manage the risk of developing or worsening eye conditions like dry eyes. Ensure that your chosen e-liquid doesn’t have too much nicotine and matches your tolerance levels. Practicing moderation can also reduce your eyes’ exposure to the vapor’s chemicals, which may otherwise dry and irritate the surface.

Check out the rest of Gypsy Vapes' website to match your vaping product to your current needs and lifestyle, as well as to find resources to guide you through quitting nicotine.