Smoking Linked to Eye Disorder


New research shows that smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of babies developing the eye disorder strabismus, commonly known as cross eyes. Researchers at the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, suggest that every cigarette smoked during pregnancy can increase strabismus risk by as much as 5%. Strabismus is a common childhood eye complaint and is thought to affect up to 3% of children worldwide. In serious cases, the disorder can lead to vision loss. Researchers hope that their findings will discourage pregnant women from smoking during pregnancy and risking the sight of their unborn children. Researchers also hope that their insights will lead to further research on the subject that will, in turn, lead to better treatment of the eye.

Researchers, led by Dr Torp-Pedersen, studied over 1300 identified cases of strabismus that occurred in children born between 1996 and 2003. They interviewed the mothers of the affected children and analysed factors including their age, alcohol consumption, smoking habits and more. Their study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, showed that women who smoked during pregnancy were between 26% and 90% more likely to have children with they eye disorder depending on the amount of cigarettes smoked daily, with heavier smokers being at increased risk. Women who smoked under 5 cigarettes a day were not at risk. The researchers also found that timing was key to the development of the eye problem. Women who smoked in early pregnancy only were at lesser risk, whilst risk levels more than doubled for women who continued to smoke into late pregnancy. The researchers and other medical experts across the world advise that women abstain from smoking whilst pregnant to safeguard their unborn children's health. Researchers also discovered that nicotine replacement therapies were not linked to the development of the eye disorder.

Strabismus or cross eyes are terms used to collectively describe up to 30 varying sub-conditions that results in the eyes misaligning when tasked with focusing on an image. Some forms of strabismus can lead to vision loss and can lessen quality of life. It is hoped that this research will save the vision of many children by dissuading their mothers from smoking during pregnancy.

17th April 2010

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