Children who experienced ‘lazy eye’, or amblyopia, may face significantly greater odds of developing serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity in adulthood, a comprehensive study suggests. Researchers from University College London (UCL) delved into the long-term health outcomes associated with the childhood eye condition, emphasizing that while a correlation has been found, causality remains unproven.
Corresponding author, Professor Jugnoo Rahi (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Great Ormond Street Hospital), said: “Amblyopia is an eye condition affecting up to four in 100 children. In the UK, all children are supposed to have vision screening before the age of five, to ensure a prompt diagnosis and relevant ophthalmic treatment.
The study in question, funded by entities including the Medical Research Council and the NIHR, and published in eClinicalMedicine, analyzed data from over 126,000 UK Biobank participants, aged 40 to 69, who underwent ocular examinations. These participants had been inquired about their history of amblyopia treatment in childhood and their current health status concerning diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular diseases.
The findings revealed that adults who had amblyopia in childhood exhibited a 29% increased likelihood of developing diabetes, 25% higher odds of hypertension, and a 16% elevated risk of obesity. These increased risks persisted regardless of whether their vision issues continued into adulthood or not, albeit with a stronger correlation in those with ongoing reduced vision.
Despite these concerning correlations, UCL’s researchers are cautious not to imply direct causation. ““We emphasise that our research does not show a causal relationship between amblyopia and ill health in adulthood. Our research means that the ‘average’ adult who had amblyopia as a child is more likely to develop these disorders than the ‘average’ adult who did not have amblyopia. The findings don’t mean that every child with amblyopia will inevitably develop cardiometabolic disorders in adult life,” said Professor Jugnoo Rahi from UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology. “It is rare to have a ‘marker’ in childhood that is associated with increased risk of serious disease in adult life, and also one that is measured and known for every child – because of population screening.”
Siegfried Wagner from UCL Institute of Ophthalmology stressed the sentinel role of vision and eyes in overall health, stating, “whether heart disease or metabolic disfunction, they are intimately linked with other organ systems.” He reaffirmed the non-causal nature of the study’s findings but noted the significance of amblyopia’s association with later-life health risks.
Relevant articles:
– Children with ‘lazy eye’ are at increased risk of serious disease in adulthood. The findings showed that adults who had amblyopia or lazy eye as a child, had a 29 per cent higher chance of developing diabetes, 25 per cent higher odds of high blood pressure and a 16 per cent higher risk of obesity
– Children with ‘lazy eye’ at increased risk of serious disease in adulthood, suggests study, Medical Xpress, Thu, 07 Mar 2024 23:30:01 GMT
– Is having a lazy eye something to be worried about? This study reveals it may be, The Jerusalem Post, Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:15:46 GMT
– Children with ‘lazy eye’ are at increased risk of serious disease in adulthood, inews, Fri, 08 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT