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Ophthalmologic findings in Russian children with fetal alcohol syndrome
1Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm - Sweden. kristinashefer@yahoo.com
Insights
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in Russian children is linked to significant vision problems and eye abnormalities. Early ophthalmologist monitoring is crucial for these children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
- Ocular abnormalities are common in children with FAS, impacting visual function and ocular anatomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional and anatomic characteristics of the eyes in Russian children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
- To compare ocular findings in children with FAS to a control group of healthy children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 Russian children (aged 10-16) was studied, including 50 with FAS and 50 healthy controls.
- Ophthalmic examinations included visual acuity testing, refraction (skiascopy), external eye inspection for FAS features, biomicroscopy, cover test for alignment, and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
Main Results:
- Children with FAS exhibited worse visual acuity and a higher prevalence of refractive errors such as hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia.
- Increased incidence of specific ocular features in FAS group: blepharophimosis (34% vs 8%), epicanthus (14% vs 2%), telecanthus (32% vs 4%), ptosis (9% vs 0%), and strabismus (26% vs 10%).
- Tilted optic discs were observed in 7% of children with FAS, compared to none in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Russian children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome demonstrate a significantly higher burden of vision impairment and ocular pathologies.
- These findings underscore the necessity for routine ophthalmological monitoring in children diagnosed with FAS.
Purpose:
To study functional and anatomic characteristics of eyes of Russian children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Methods:
One hundred children aged 10-16 years from Russian orphanages (St. Petersburg) were examined: 50 with verified diagnosis of FAS and 50 healthy children. All children were tested for distance visual acuity (VA) with subjective optimal correction (Sivtsev chart), skiascopy, visual inspection for FAS external ocular features, biomicroscopy, eye alignment using cover test, and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
Results:
All analyzed parameters were worse in children with FAS compared with controls. Children with FAS showed a higher incidence of amblyopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia. In children with FAS, the incidence of blepharophimosis was 34% (8% in controls), epicanthus 14% (2% in controls), telecanthus 32% (compared to 4% in controls), eyelid ptosis 9% (none in controls), and strabismus 26% (10% in controls). Ophthalmoscopy revealed a tilted optic disc in 5 children with FAS (7%) compared with none in controls.
Conclusion:
Russian children with FAS have a higher incidence of vision problems and eye pathology that needs to be taken into account and requires ophthalmologist monitoring.
