PEDIATRIC AND OPHTHALMOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS IN OFFSPRING OF ALCOHOL-ABUSING MOTHERS

The offspring of nine women who had abused alcohol and drugs during pr egnancy were studied. Of the 30 children, 10 had fetal alcohol syndrom e (FAS) or fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Ophthalmological impairments a ssociated with FAS-impaired vision, optic nerve hypoplasia, cataract, increased tortuosity of retinal vessels-were common. The severity of t eratogenic lesions varied among the children and was often related to the level of abuse during pregnancy. Most women were unable to take ca re of their children during periods of substance abuse. All children w ith FAS/FAE had learning difficulties. Four mothers abstained from alc ohol or drugs during some of their pregnancies and gave birth to child ren without birth defects.