Clearing the Air: Secondhand Smoke and the Rising Threat of Childhood Myopia

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with higher myopic refraction, longer axial length, and an increased risk of developing moderate and high myopia, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Adverse Impact of Secondhand Smoke on Childhood Myopia

Youjuan Zhang, Ph.D., of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and colleagues used cross-sectional data from a population-based study comprising 12,630 children aged 6 to 8 years to investigate the relationship between SHS exposure and childhood myopia. The researchers discovered that 32.4% of the children had been exposed to SHS. After controlling for age, gender, parental myopia, body mass index, near-work time, outdoor time, and family wealth, SHS exposure was linked with higher myopic refraction and longer axial length ( = 0.09 and 0.05). Children exposed to SHS had an increased risk of acquiring moderate and high myopia (odds ratios of 1.30 and 2.64, respectively).

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Exacerbates Myopia Risk in Children

The relationship between SHS exposure and spherical equivalence and axial length was intensified in younger children; SHS exposure was related to a 0.07-D decline in spherical equivalence and a 0.05-mm increase in axial length for each younger year of a child's exposure to SHS. SHS exposure was associated with a younger mean age of development of myopia (72.8 versus 74.6 months). Every 10-cigarette-per-day increase in SHS exposure was linked with higher myopic refraction ( = 0.07), axial length ( = 0.04), and the odds of developing moderate and high myopia (odds ratios, 1.23 and 1.75, respectively), as well as earlier myopia start ( = 1.30) (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Analysis of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Myopia Among Children Aged 6 to 8 Years in Hong Kong.

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"Eliminating SHS exposure for eye care among children is important, particularly in families with young children," the authors write.

Reference:

1. Analysis of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Myopia Among Children Aged 6 to 8 Years in Hong Kong. - (https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37166795)

Source-Medindia