Effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs of abuse on retinal development

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To assess structural changes in the retina using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in children prenatally exposed to toxic substances. Methods The study included a total of 49 infants, aged between 5 and 18 years, exposed to toxic substances during pregnancy. Among the exposed children, 25 were exposed to tobacco, 20 were exposed to alcohol, and 4 children were exposed to other drugs of abuse. All children underwent a complete ophthalmology examination, including an OCT. The results were compared against a control group composed of 25 infants, age matched with controlled pregnancy, and not exposed to toxic substances. Results Children prenatally exposed to toxic substances showed significantly thinner average retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) compared with control children (81.5 vs. 99.7\xa0μm; p\xa0 Conclusion Toxic substances during pregnancy interfere in retinal development. These results strengthen the evidence about the avoidance of any toxic substance during pregnancy.