One of the most immediate effects of quitting smoking is how blurry your eyes get. It happens to everybody, and it’s a very common symptom.
It’s not a huge problem, as long as you have good vision to begin with. If you don’t, it may cause some problems early on in those first few days.
Although quite bothersome, it DOES go away. It’s just a reaction of your eyes not getting the smoke they are used to getting.
It’s all part of the process. It should go away in a few days.
It’s for sure one of the first symptoms.
For me, it started once the cravings became really intense on Day 1. It didn’t happen right away, but a few hours later when the cravings were fierce.
If you have to work that first day, be prepared for it. You’re going to be dizzy, and your eyes are going to be watering. It’s nothing to worry about.
In fact, I bet you’ll even take a step back and totally realize what’s going on, and maybe even laugh about it.
If you are wondering why this is happening, it’s because your eyes are responding to a lack of smoke being blown at them.
Do you think all that you exhale doesn’t hit the membranes of your eyes and affect them, too? Of course it does.
When you quit, you take away that source, so your eyes are going to react. Luckily, it isn’t painful.
At its peak, I felt dizzy and felt like falling over. I lost focus a few times, so I lost my balance. It also made my eyes dry, so I was using eye drops to keep them moist and wet.
But I just let it ride out. I still went about my daily life. It didn’t prevent me from doing anything.
If you have responsibilities that first day, just be prepared for some dizzy moments and possibly some loss of balance.
It doesn’t last all day.
It goes through waves, just like the pain of withdrawal. It’s never constant.
It may be a good idea to have some eye drops handy, so you can keep your eyes moist and wet throughout the day. They are going to be dry, so be prepared for that.
People might think you’re hungover or that you got less sleep than normal. It’s OK, let them think that. You know what’s really going on.
It’s too bad they aren’t. This is the least of your worries, that’s for sure.
One thing that is for sure is this…
As soon as this symptom hits, you know your body is healing itself. It’s actually a good sign. It means you’re on the road to recovery and becoming your old self.
Accept it with open arms. It’s just one little obstacle in the grand scheme of things.
It’s worth it.
Thanks to everyone who posted here. It’s day 2 of quitting for me. Smoked for 24 years. Went from cigs to vapes (and yes, vapes are worse), and today my eyes are extremely blurry. I feel nauseous too. I was starting to think I should go to the ER, but I came across this article and now I feel better. I also see black floating objects. Hope to feel better soon!
Hey guys! I’m gonna be 25 in a month and have my first kid on the way in 3 months. I was a hardcore vaper for about 7 years. Going through a $25 disposable every 3-4 days. Quit cold turkey a little over 2 weeks ago and haven’t caved yet. It’s been the most difficult situation I’ve dealt with in my life and I held my passed away ma a day before my 16th birthday and this has been harder on my brain than that. Seeing everyone else rely the same symptoms though especially the blurry vision and crippling anxiety is helping me knowing that my case isn’t particular. Here for the long haul though and I’m ready for decades of happier life with my new family without smoking. We’ve got this!!!!
I’m 19 hours and i just started getting aches and pain can’t see that good im 22 years old women and been smoking for 1 year and 1 month and got bad anxiety
And my brain is different and aching and really constipated
I’m 17 and vaped for 7 months straight. I probably hit my vape around 100 times a day. My vision started being blurry the first day of quitting. It’s now day 7 and my vision hasn’t changed… still blurry. Im worried it’s something serious and not just withdrawal. My eyes are heavy, sensitive to light, things far away are slightly blurred, everything feels slowed motion wise. Idk what’s going on but I need help
Ive vaped for almost a year, i’m 16 and I’ve smoked a couple cigarettes here and there but mainly vaping. i’m actually 20 hours in of last hitting it, I woke up at 2 AM with my heart beating out of my chest and I couldn’t breathe, it was at 150 beats per min laying down. it happened again later in the day today and my vision is unbearably blurry and I’m dizzy and I’m scared as well, when I was in 5th grade and they taught us about nicotine I thought they were joking but I know now this is no joke, it’s hard as hell.
Did you get to the bottom of this? I’ve had similar symptoms
Did you ever figure it out I’m having the same problem
Hey bud I’m going through the exactsame withdrawals i’ve had this feelig for nearly 4 weeks and my optician says he cant see anything wrong eith my eyes hasnt stopped me from booking another test with a different doctor but inside i know its okay just wait and it should subside soon hopefully
I’m on day 9 and my vision is so bad which has never been before. So blurry that it’s giving me headaches that lingers through out the day. Also very constipated. Hoping nothing is wrong with my eyes. .
I smoked cigarettes for 9 years. I just quit cold turkey one week ago. I’ve had every withdrawal symptom in the book and some of them really scared me, but thanks to the internet I know it’s normal. I’ve experienced sore throat, chest pain, headache, canker sores, fatigue, muscle aches and weakness, dizziness, blurry vision, severe anxiety, tingling in arms and legs, nausea, and sinus congestion. I hope this helps someone feel less alone. Quitting smoking is so worth it and you will feel better soon!!!
I’m 23 started smoking at 16 . I stopped smoking cigarettes 2 weeks ago and picked up a puff bar . 2 days into the puff bar I had a severe anxiety / panic attack which lead me to the hospital… I was so anxious and depressed I stayed in as my mental health was terrible. Got released and still continued with the puff bar my anxiety and depression didn’t get any better so as of 4 days ago I decided to quit … it’s been a rough 3 days but as of today I haven’t felt any anxiety. I’m having withdrawal symptoms. Head aches , eyes not focusing chest pain . But I feel normal again and not like I’m going crazy .
Hi guys I was a smoker for 25 years and I quit for 8 days now..My eyes are blurry can’t see well..I’m abit worry because I need to start working in one weeks time
Could’n uderstand why my eyes became so so sensitive…
it makes sense now ♂️
Thanks Alot for the info
After 26 years…with lets say 6 combined months of break…
decided that i’ll quit for good this time…
4’th day and no craving…all good… sensitive eyes but i can live with that…mostly if will pass…
Thanks again!
Hi, I was smoking 10yrs, It’s been 9days of quitting smoking, i felt irregular heartbeat, lack of concentration, fatigue, pin and needles feeling, numbness and vision blurry, is it normal?
Blurry vision is definitely a side effect of quitting smoking. Happened to me. I even wrote an article about it on here.
Three weeks after quitting smokeless tobacco and have blurred vision in my right eye. Could that be a nicotine withdrawal symptom, even though my eyes were not exposed to smoke? Also experiencing fatigue and at times, lower pulse/blood pressure.
I have been two months since I quit smoking I didn’t get really any symptoms the first month . But the second month and now into the third month are kicking my butt
Same here…month three. What the hell.
try drinking licorice tea helped with me
It’s been 13 days since I have quit smoking, and my vision is blurry, my eyes itch and my head is throbbing! The smell of cigarettes now is not pleasant!
It’s day three for me – my eyes hurt and my eyelids feel heavy. I actually feel like I am suffocating and cannot breathe.
I smoked 1 pack a day for thirty years and the last year only about three cigarettes per day maximum. I am disabled from a broken neck, so I cannot go to the store to buy any more smokes and my caretaker as decided (with my doctor’s elated approval) to just stop buying my my smokes (I paid for them, she just went to pick them up)… My body hurts from the broken neck and spinal cod damage and NOW from the withdrawal.
… but the eye pain and blurry vision is just getting worse, it’s like looking through a glass jar filled with water for the blurriness and the pain feels like a massive pressure weight is being forced on my eyeballs.
I’m going insane – with no way to get more cigarettes… it is torture! I could understand if I were going to be dating and marrying and having kids to want to live a long, healthy life… but with my permanent disability, no way. The sooner I am gone, the better, yet “No smoke for you!”.
This sucks.
The symptoms will go! But you have a right to free choice, if you want cigarettes then demand them. Your life should be lived by your choices alone!
Same exact thing is happening to me
Hey guys. its day 4 for me and i feel it too, Im using nicorette 2mg nicotine chewing gum to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. I use an average of 2-3 a day when the cravings hits the hardest.
What i realise is the squinting and burning eye feeling comes when the nicotine withdrawals hit. A local doctor told me that is the feeling of increase blood flow to the eyes. Since the nicotine contracts blood vessels. I also “feel” my gums more, from the extra blood flow. I hope tht makes sense! soldier on guys!
I quit smoking about 10 days ago and I’m worry that my vision is blurry I smoke for 25 years and I don’t know what to do I though I had some in my eyes but then I start reading here and looks like a lot of people go tru this can you help me and how long this last thank you
Mentioned to my colleagues this morning that my eyes were getting worse, took my glasses off, that made it worse. On day 3 of no smoking. Eyes have felt heavy as last couple days.. Happily not smoking though.. pushing on through – glad its a side effect of quitting… Totally makes sense considering how much smoke goes past your eyes each day! Awesome article and positive too… We all got this!!
I am in my first day quitting and I did have to work. I couldn’t understand why my eyes kept watering and I felt like squinting a lot. Now that I have read this article it makes sense and I an just going to keep on pushing through as well. I will not be a slave to a cigarette!!!!
Will my eye sight be blurry forever or will it go away in a week
It’s very common when you quit. Won’t last more than a few days or so.
Thanks for your reassurance
I am on day 4 and my eyes are blurry. I was kind of like a binge smoker this time I would get stressed out and puff down a pack and a half per day. I had quit for 8 years and started again due to stress and family problems. I feel like crap but i’m not going to pick up another cigarette. I wish you all the best with your quitting journey.
I’m on day 6 of quitting dipping after doing it for 7 years and before that smoked for 13 years and dipped sometimes. In other words, a total of of 20 years of nicotine. It is hard to search for nicotine effects bc everything is so consumed with SMOKING which is a way of administration. The drug is nicotine!!
So, anyway, I have had the blurry eyes for about 3 days now!!! It is crazy because it suddenly seems like I need glasses!!! That’s how bad it is. SQUINTING DOESN’T HELP. So it’s superficial blurriness. I TRIED EYE DROPS. nothing helps because it’s the withdrawal and not in the eye itself. People don’t realize nicotine is a powerful drug and when you use it for so long you do not EVEN KNOW the effects it has been having because you have always had it.
I THINK IT CAUSES ANXIETY!!! the nicotine.. So if you have anxiety which you most certainly do if you smoke, you may try to justify it (maybe not if your here) but the nicotine is a stimulant and it IS antagonizing your anxiety. And it messes with your hormones too!!!!! Bad in the same way for both men and women. And kills sex drive!!! That is one bonus!! After quitting, I have way more sexual desire . And it’s NOT just trying to fill one craving for another. I know all about that. It’s not that.
So if you get depressed sometimes because you can’t f*ck like you used to, then quit smoking/dipping!!!! I know you may not believe it but nicotine is affecting a lot of things people do not know!!! And when it effects the hormones like this, it also affects metabolism and how you break down food.
Everybody KNOWS nicotine doesn’t make you lose weight!! In fact, it makes you gain weight and keep belly fat/man tits, if you have those!!! Because the nicotine makes more estrogen. This is bad for women too because too much estrogen is bad for them too. But now we all know…. Now we know nicotine ain’t no joke.
I QUIT CAFFEINE TOO MONTHS AGO. That caused problems and I didn’t even drink that much because of anxiety. I also do not drink alcohol or abuse prescriptions. I don’t like pills but I take one pill for my anxiety as a safety net. So I can get a damn grip sometimes.
But I am hoping that quitting this nicotine once and for all, it will help me ween off the medication. I hate relying on a doctor/medical industry. Yuck. It’s like having a J-O-B. lol makes me feel dirty inside. Good luck everyone.
I thought the whole blurry vision symptom was me going crazy, but now I see others also have the same problem (symptom). I started again but will set another quit date this week.
Well played on all of you who have stopped. I realise especially in cigarettes/alcohol, other drugs that we aren’t actually quitting anything, it’s more to do with living more and living a life less dependent on things outside of ourselves.
Continue the good work Mateo
I do agree with you Mateo. It is day 1 of non-smoking and I had that blurry dry eyes all day. Another physical effect is a burning sensation in the lungs.
Thanks to all of you for posting. Also thanks to the creator of this site for making it so appealing and user friendly!
I thought it was just me feeling that burning sensation. Its terrible but will go away. My eyes are dry and I keep wanting to scratch them but can’t. It feels like something is in them but I knownits not. It’s a weird feeling. It’s been 3 weeks.
HI Guys, I just needed some advice, urgently, I’m scared as to vision loss, I am 28 and have been smoking for 2 and a half years and noticed just this past month my eyes are most of the time VEry heavy and my vision is also a little delayed and blurry I usually smoke 40’s and they last me 2days , I really want to stop smoking and it’s really hard for me, I’m scared my vision will continue to be like this and gET worse, I don’t want to go blind but I feel like I’m nearly there, if I do stop ASAP as in starting from today will my vision get better? Or is it too late
I personally don’t feel as if 2.5 years of smoking will impair your vision that much. When you quit, you get blurry eyes for a little while, but nothing to make you literally go blind. At least not after that amount of time smoking. If it were 30 years, I’d have some more concern. Quit now while it’s still relatively new in your life. The time is now.
It’s a nice idea but I think the cause is unfortunately a bit less interesting. Basically, nicotine increases the firing of neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. The body gradually adapts by producing less of this substance, so when one withdrawals from nicotine there is the opposite effect, i.e. a lack of acetylcholine firing.
Drugs that block acetylcholine (anticholinergics) such as benadryl also cause blurry vision, and some other symptoms that resemble nicotine withdrawal such as poor concentration and constipation.
How long do you thing the vision problems will last? For me it’s been about a week and my eyes are still sensitive to light, heavy, far away things are slightly blurred, and motion bothers me. I’m scared and have Ben to the eye doc but they said my eyes were fine. I’ve been to the regular doc and he said I was fine too. Idk what to do
Quit caffeine for a bit too if you do that. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system.
If not, just keep going. You won’t get better by more vaping.
Did this ever stop for you Garrett and if so how long did it take for the eyes to stop I’m past 8 days still weird vision
i DON’T THINK ITS GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH SMOKE BEING BLOWN IN YOUR EYES. I HAVE THIS SYMPTOM AND I HAVEN’T SMOKED IN YEARS, I’M QUITTING WITH NICOTINE LOZENGES.
Why not? Your eyes are not solid objects. They are permeable, just like your skin. Constant smoke in the eyes and then sudden cold turkey would have some effect, I would say.
It’s not smoke being blown in our eyes. Our eyes have some of the most delicate blood vessels in our body. With any toxin leaving the body we usually notice first but n our eyes. Wooohooo!!! I’m on day eight and my eyes are blurry as. I love smoking but has become too expensive in my country… $23 for a pack of 20 so I’ve quit. When I get cravings I think about the money I’m saving and also for my 8 year old son… this is gonna be too easy!! Good bye stink breath, stained hands etc it really is quite disgusting.
Thanks for the very kind, very encouraging advise