June 2022
Volume 63, Issue 7
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2022
Early Lifetime Substance Use and Development of Significant Visual Impairment or Blindness: An Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Asher Khan
    Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
  • Zain S Hussain
    University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Asad Loya
    Baylor College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Kaushal Shah
    Psychiatry, Griffin Memorial Hospital, Norman, Oklahoma, United States
    Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
  • Kamran Riaz
    Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Asher Khan None; Zain Hussain None; Asad Loya None; Kaushal Shah None; Kamran Riaz None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2022, Vol.63, 4240 – A0168. doi:
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      Asher Khan, Zain S Hussain, Asad Loya, Kaushal Shah, Kamran Riaz; Early Lifetime Substance Use and Development of Significant Visual Impairment or Blindness: An Analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):4240 – A0168.

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

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Abstract

Purpose : Recent research has highlighted a significantly high prevalence of visual impairment among Americans with a history of early lifetime substance abuse. The purpose of this study is to further investigate the effects of early lifetime substance use on the eventual onset of severe visual acuity impairment or blindness in this patient population.

Methods : The National Survey on Drug Use and Health was queried to identify all cases of substance use before 21 years of age as well as all cases of significant visual impairment with refraction correction or blindness. Any cases with unknown or arbitrary visual outcomes were eliminated from analysis. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression with time-dependency was performed to evaluate odds of visual impairment influenced by 16 individual substances or classes. Adjusted variables of interest included gender, marital status, age bracket, race, level of education, total family income, poverty level, population density, and lifetime history of chronic disease.

Results : After elimination of 312 arbitrary cases, 55824 total cases were considered for analysis with 2577 (4.6%) cases of blindness or significant visual impairment despite refraction correction. Interviewees reporting illicit substance use prior to 21 years of age experienced significantly enhanced odds of eventual vision loss/blindness (OR=1.252, CI 1.175-1.322, p<0.001). Specifically, the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, lysergic acid diethylamide, phencyclidine, ecstasy, inhalants, methamphetamine, and tranquilizers significantly enhanced odds of permanent vision loss. Interviewee-reported substance use yielding borderline/no significance in relation to eventual vision loss/blindness included crack, heroin, pain relievers, stimulants, and sedatives.

Conclusions : Multivariate analysis demonstrated substantially enhanced odds of eventual significant visual impairment with refraction correction or blindness in relation to substance use prior to 21 years of age. A number of commonly abused substances have greater risk for permanent vision impairment. These findings may further help clinicians and public health agencies in mitigation efforts including education, prevention and rehabilitation.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

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