The effect of active smoking, passive smoking, and e-cigarettes on the tear film: An updated comprehensive review. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miglio, Federica; Naroo, Shehzad; Zeri, Fabrizio; Tavazzi, Silvia; Ponzini, Erika
• Is Part Of: Experimental eye research. Volume 210(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Tear film -- Active smoking -- e-cigarettes -- Environmental tobacco smoke -- Tear stability -- Tear quality -- Lipid layer; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Periodicals; Œil -- Périodiques; Ophthalmology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108691
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-4835

Abstract

Abstract: Active tobacco smoking, passive smoking, and e-cigarette smoking have been associated with different systemic and ocular diseases. The precorneal tear film plays an important role in eye health and its analysis can provide useful information on ocular status. This review investigates the effects of different types of smoking on the precorneal tear film, by analyzing the peer-reviewed literature on this topic. Specifically, tear evaporation rate, stability, volume, ferning, osmolarity, and physical composition (lipids and proteins) of tear film are detailed. Most of the reported works show that cigarette smoking reduces tear film stability and quality by affecting its components. This review highlights that smoking severely affects the tear film, but a single test is not sufficient to determine these effects because smoking can impact different parts of the eye. Highlights: Active, passive and e-cigarette smoking affects tear film. Passive and e-cigarette smoking effects on tear film are similar to active smoking. Smoking causes lipid oxidation, damaging the lipid layer. Smoking alters tear volume, stability, ferning, osmolarity and composition. A single test is not sufficient to describe the effect of smoking on tear film.