Study Links E-Cigarette Use to Increased Cataract Risk, Cataract Surgery to Lower Depression Rates

One study examined data from the NIH All of Us Research Program involving over 878,000 participants. Researchers focused on adults who used e-cigarettes, categorizing them based on frequency of use—those who used them some days or every day, including those who also smoked traditional cigarettes. After propensity matching to control for various factors, 34,917 pairs were analyzed. The findings showed that e-cigarette users had a higher likelihood of developing cataracts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.11) and other ocular surface diseases (OSDs). These OSDs included tear film insufficiency (aOR, 1.23), meibomian gland dysfunction (aOR, 1.28), and blepharitis (aOR, 1.38). Notably, those who smoked both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes exhibited the strongest association with cataract and OSD development.

Another study focused on the mental health outcomes of patients following cataract surgery, utilizing the TriNetX database. Analyzed were 786,022 participants identified with cataracts from 2010 to 2025, stratified by age and surgical status. The results indicated that cataract surgery was linked to a lower risk of new-onset depression (relative risk [RR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-0.95), although anxiety rates did not significantly differ between groups. Specifically, patients aged 30 to 64 showed reduced rates of both depression (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.94) and anxiety (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.86-0.92). Those aged 65 and older also had lower depression rates (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.74-0.83). However, no significant differences in depression or anxiety were observed in individuals aged 18 to 29.

These findings highlight the importance of recognizing e-cigarette use and cataract surgery as factors that can notably impact eye health and mental well-being, assisting healthcare professionals in better addressing patient needs.