Abstract

ZOZAYA ALDANA, Beatriz  and  MEDINA RODRIGUEZ, Isabel. Ocular alterations in the fetal alcoholic syndrome. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.1, pp. 100-109. ISSN 1561-3062.

The fetal alcoholic syndrome (FAS) is a dimorphous entity associated with gestational alcoholism; clinical features are related with the tissue sensitivity, dose and extent of ethanol exposition. Recent studies report that the neuronal plasticity plays an important role in the brain development and in particular of the visual cortex. Some of the key factors involved in plasticity include the N-methyl-D-aspartate and the GABA receptors, as well as the ethyl exposition in embryogeny stages inducing functional alterations in such factors. The systemic anomalies associated with alcoholic teratogenesis may be grouped in four categories: functional alterations specific of the central nervous system, development deficiencies, facial abnormalities and different malformations of other organs including the visual system. The ophthalmologic alterations more frequently associated are: unilateral or bilateral ptosis, strabismus and high myopia. In the anterior segment it is possible to find microcornea, congenital glaucoma, cataract and hyaloid artery persistency. Finally, in the fundus oculi, papilla hypoplasia and the retinal arteriovenous tortuosness are frequent findings in this entity. The objective of present paper is to summarize the existing knowledge in the medical literature on the ocular teratogenesis due to presence of alcohol to help in the early recognition of the involved neonates, to begin the rehabilitation therapy and to make easy the family advice.

Keywords : Ethyl alcohol; alcoholism; teratogenesis; systemic malformations; ocular malformations.

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