Abstract :
Introduction: The relationship of smoking with visual evoked potential is debated. Cigarette smoke
contains cytotoxic compounds which directly or indirectly cause damage to neuronal cells. Smokers
develop elevated carboxyhaemoglobin levels which might impair function of central nervous system by
affecting oxygen transport and its utilization leading to perceptual-motor delay in smokers.
Objectives: To record the visual evoked potential in smokers and non-smokers aged 20-40years and to
compare between two groups for any changes in P100.
Materials and Methods: Age matched 100 male smokers and 100 male non smokers in the age group of
20-40 years were studied for visual evoked potential. Smoking in terms of pack years was noted. Data was
statistically analyzed.
Results: Visual evoked potential was affected in smokers with prolongation of latency and decrease in
amplitude of P100 in both the eyes than non smokers, with is statistically highly significant. There is a
significant positive correlation between smoking history expressed in pack-years and latency of P100 in
smokers group.
Conclusion: Smoking causes degeneration in optic nerve shown by increased latency of P100 which
increases as the number of pack-years increase.
Keyword :
Smoking, Pack years, Visual evoked potential, P100.