Exploring the Relationship Between Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Childhood Amblyopia and Myopia Risk: Longitudinal Cohort Studies

• Published in: Current topics in nutraceuticals research Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 1139 - 1144
• Main Authors: Zhang, Tianbo, Wu, Jiachen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Century Health Publishers, LLC 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Amblyopia; Education of women; Eye; Myopia; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Risk factors; Surgery; Vision disorders in children
• ISSN: 1540-7535
• DOI: 10.37290/ctnr2641-452X.22:1139-1144

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy and myopia onset or progression in young adult women, utilizing a longitudinal cohort design with a substantial sample size. Myopia is a prevalent refractive error with significant public health and economic implications. There are genetic and environmental risk factors for myopia; however, the role of pregnancy in the development of myopia is unknown. No longitudinal studies with extensive sample sizes have clarified the relationship between pregnancy and myopia. This study included 100 women aged 20–50 years, who were followed up biennially for up to 14 years. Pregnancy occurrences and myopia assessments were recorded. A comparison of individuals with and without pregnancies revealed differences in the incidence of myopia and amblyopia, their ages, and body mass index. Hazard ratios for myopia onset or progression were significantly lower in individuals with at least one pregnancy, particularly during the early follow-up periods. Sensitivity analyses and adjustments for confounders supported these findings. This study demonstrated that pregnancy may prevent myopia onset or progression, particularly during early adulthood. Future research should confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms, informing clinical decisions, including refractive surgery timing in women of childbearing age.