Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the macular adaptation after photostress condition in patient addicted to smoking.
Methods: :
Thirty chronic, heavy smokers (smoking at least 1 box per a day during the past 5 years), and 24 healthy controls were enrolled. They performed the visual field testing first (Humprey®) to define the baseline threshold value. Then, photostress testing was performed by exposing the macula to 60W white lamp for 30 seconds, while they were in front of the bowl. Light thresholds were recorded at 1-minute apart until the subject was able to reach the baseline threshold value. Photostress recovery times in the smokers and the nonsmokers groups were compared.
Results: :
Mean ages of the smokers and the nonsmokers were 29.8±3.2 years and 30.1±3.0, respectively (p=0.79). The groups included men only.They have been smoking for 11±5.6 years (ranging 5 to 25 years). Initial foveolar threshold values were similar in both groups (p=0.71). Recovery times were not different between the groups (7.1± 1.1 minutes in smokers and 7.4±1.3 in nonsmokers). Only the threshold value obtained 1 minute after photostress condition was statistically higher in smokers (36,2 db and 34,7 db, p=0,013).
Conclusions: :
Smoking may not influence the recovery time for macular adaptation after photostress in heavy smokers.
Keywords: ocular irritants