Abnormal Vision Common in Infants Exposed to Methadone in Utero
From the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Investigators followed 81 maternal drug-exposed infants six months after birth to explore associations between specific in utero drug and alcohol exposure and early infant visual development. In addition to methadone, 90 percent of drug-exposed infants were also exposed to illicit drugs and 41 percent to excess alcohol in utero. At six months, 40 percent failed clinical visual assessment. Nystagmus was common and the fivefold increased risk of failing the six-month visual assessment for drug-exposed infants persisted after correcting for excess alcohol exposure in utero. Compared to controls, flash visual evoked potentials peak times were slower and amplitudes smaller in drug-exposed infants. British Journal of Ophthalmology, February 2014