Long Term Vision Outcomes For Children Exposed To Opioid Maintenance Therapy

Opioid maintenance therapy (such as treatment with methadone or buprenorphine) is often the safest option for pregnant women with opioid use disorder, but researchers are still learning how it may affect children later in life. This Norwegian study followed kids ages 5–13 to explore long-term outcomes, especially vision and development, and offers important insights for families and healthcare providers.

SUMMARY IN PLAIN ENGLISH:

For pregnant women who struggle with opioid addiction, doctors often recommend opioid maintenance therapy (OMT, treatment with long-acting medications such as methadone or buprenorphine. This treatment is generally considered safer for babies than untreated opioid use during pregnancy.

However, past research suggests that children exposed to OMT before birth may have a higher risk of vision problems, developmental delays, and differences in brain development. Most studies have focused on babies and very young children, so less is known about how these children do as they grow older.

To learn more, researchers in Norway studied 126 children ages 5–13. The goal was to better understand the long-term effects, especially related to vision and visual development, in school-aged children.

Children who were exposed to opioid maintenance treatment medicines (like methadone or buprenorphine) before birth had more vision challenges than children who were not exposed.

Here’s what the researchers found:

• Vision was worse overall in the exposed group.

• Strabismus (Eye misalignment) was most common:

• 30% of exposed children

• 4.8% of unexposed children

• Nystagmus (shaky or jerky eye movements) also occurs more often:

• 16% of exposed children

• Only 1 child in the unexposed group

• Children exposed to methadone had worse vision outcomes than children exposed to buprenorphine.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:

If your child was prenatally exposed to Opioid Maintenance Therapy, especially methadone or buprenorphine, this study suggests that they may need extra monitoring for vision development as they grow. If you suspect visual difficulties or notice unusual eye movements, consult with your child's care team, which should include a pediatric ophthalmologist.