Observational, comparative, cross-sectional study

To evaluate the acute and chronic effects of smokeless tobacco (ST) on the anterior segment parameters using optical biometry. Observational, comparative, cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University.

The study included 53 right eyes of 53 subjects (study group), who used ST and 54 right eyes of 54 healthy subjects without ST (control group). Following a full ophthalmological examination, baseline measurements were taken with optical biometry and these measurements were repeated at 5, 30 and 60 mins after using ST.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A subject who use ST
• A subject who was not using ST

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refractive disorder
• Systemic chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, neurological, etc.)
• Ocular trauma
• Ocular surgery
• Glaucoma
• Optic disc abnormalities
• Congenital anomaly

All the study subjects underwent a full ophthalmological examination.The anterior segment parameter measurements were taken with optical biometry.

Each subject was questioned in respect of how many years and how many times a day they used ST. Before taking the optical biometry measurements, the subjects were questioned as to whether they had used ST, drunk anything containing caffeine or smoked cigarettes in the previous 12 hours, and those who had were excluded from the study.

Each subject was given 1mg ST and the optical biometry measurements were repeated after 5, 30 and 60 mins. A single measurement was performed with optical biometry in the control group. To avoid diurnal variations, the measurements were taken in the morning between 09.00 and 12.00 hours.