May 2008
Volume 49, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2008
Potential Influence of Maternal Smoking on Refractive Status and Axial Length: The Sydney Myopia Study
R. Fotedar; P. Mitchell; G. Burlutsky; K. A. Rose; I. Morgan; J. J. Wang; Sydney Childhood Eye Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • R. Fotedar
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology & Westmead Millennium Institute,
  • P. Mitchell
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology & Westmead Millennium Institute,
  • G. Burlutsky
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology & Westmead Millennium Institute,
  • K. A. Rose
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Discipline of Orthoptics,
  • I. Morgan
    ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • J. J. Wang
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology & Westmead Millennium Institute,
  • Sydney Childhood Eye Study
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  R. Fotedar, None; P. Mitchell, None; G. Burlutsky, None; K.A. Rose, None; I. Morgan, None; J.J. Wang, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Australian NHMRC(Grant No.253732)
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2008, Vol.49, 3142. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      Potential Influence of Maternal Smoking on Refractive Status and Axial Length: The Sydney Myopia Study
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      R. Fotedar, P. Mitchell, G. Burlutsky, K. A. Rose, I. Morgan, J. J. Wang, Sydney Childhood Eye Study; Potential Influence of Maternal Smoking on Refractive Status and Axial Length: The Sydney Myopia Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):3142.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : To examine the associations of maternal smoking with refraction in children aged 6 and 12 years.

Methods: : Children from 34 primary and 21 high schools in Sydney, Australia, were examined in the Sydney Myopia Study. 1402 of 1741 6-year old participants and 1872 of 2367 12-year old participants of predominantly European Caucasian and Middle Eastern ethnicities were included in this analysis to examine a relatively homogenous distribution of Axial length (AL).Comprehensive eye exams included cycloplegic autorefraction and ocular biometry. Information on maternal smoking history (years smoked and number of cigarettes smoked/ day during pregnancy) and birth parameters were obtained from questionnaires completed by parents.

Results: : 315 12-year old and 186 6-year old children were exposed to maternal smoking prior to birth. After adjusting for age, sex and ethnicity, history of maternal smoking was significantly associated with low birth weight (12-year olds: mean birth weight 3229g in the exposed vs 3401g in the non-exposed, p<0.0001; 6-year-olds: mean 3171g in exposed vs. 3388g in non-exposed children, p<0.0001). Similarly, history of maternal smoking was associated with slightly shorter AL (12-year olds: age-sex-ethnicity adjusted mean 23.28mm vs 23.38mm in non-exposed, p=0.005; 6-year olds: adjusted mean 22.49mm vs 22.62mm in non-exposed, p=0.008). This association remained significant only in the 12-year olds (p=0.03) but not in the 6-year olds (p=0.24) after further adjusting for birth weight. After adjusting for ethnicity, age, sex and birth weight, exposure to maternal smoking was associated with a more hyperopic refraction (12-year olds: mean spherical equivalent refraction [SER] 0.77 D vs 0.58D in non-exposed, p=0.003; 6-year olds: mean SER 1.42D vs 1.19D in non-exposed, p=0.003), after further adjusting for AL, this association remained significant only in the 6-year olds (p=0.003).

Conclusions: : Our findings suggest that exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, shorter AL and more hyperopic refraction in children. The association of maternal exposure to smoking with low birth weight could not explain entirely its association with shorter AL in the 12-year olds; and its association with shorter AL could not explain entirely its association with hyperopic refraction in the 6-year olds.

Keywords: refraction • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment 
© 2008, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept