New data confirm the retinal damage they are exposed to.
Smoking tobacco from cigarettes, cigars or pipes exposes us to an increased risk of lung and heart disease and the development of tumours, but also poses a serious threat to the health of our eyes.
Passive smoking is also an important risk factor, not only for the eyes of adults, but also and especially for those of children.
Data from a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology show that in children exposure to the passive smoking is associated with choroidal thinning, with a dose-dependent effect.
The study was conducted on 1,400 children, aged between 6 and 8 years, living in Hong Kong, a region where smoking in public areas has been banned since 2007, more than a decade ago.
The thickness of the choroid of the children recruited in the study was measured by means of optical coherent radiation tomography, while information on ETS exposure was collected by means of a questionnaire administered to parents.
Of the participating children, 941 (67.2%) had not been exposed to passive smoking, while 459 (32.8%) had at least one smoker in the family. Taking into account correction factors such as age, gender, body mass index, axial length and birth weight, the group of children with ETS exposure had a thinner choroid compared to children in the non-smoking group, with a difference ranging from 6.4 µm to 8.3 µm depending on the measurement point.
In parallel, choroidal thinning increased in proportion to the number of smoking family members and the more prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke.
These findings confirm the potential risks of passive smoking on children's ocular health and development, and in particular that early childhood exposures are associated with early retinal vascular changes.
Detecting ocular damage in children as young as 6 years old is quite disturbing, since until now most studies had analysed eye diseases that can occur over the years in adult smokers, both active and passive.
Here is a summary of the eye diseases for which smoking has been identified as a risk factor:
- Dry eye
- Cataracts
- AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma and optic nerve diseases.
An important recommendation concerns pregnant women, who should first and foremost avoid active smoking, but also exposure to passive smoking, since during pregnancy, harmful substances absorbed by the mother are also passed on to the foetus.
Source
Yuan N, Li J, Tang S et al. Association of Secondhand Smoking Exposure With Choroidal Thinning in Children Aged 6 to 8 Years: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019 Oct 17:1-9.
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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