Ocular findings in a newborn with fetal alcohol syndrome may include which finding?

• A. Optic nerve hypoplasia
• B. Lymphangioma
• C. Retinoblastoma
• D. Ptosis

Answer: (A)

Alcohol exposure during early gestation disrupts the development of the visual system, leading to optic nerve hypoplasia. This underdevelopment of the optic nerve is a recognized ocular finding in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders because ethanol interferes with neural development, including the cells that form the optic nerve. In newborns with fetal alcohol exposure you may also see features like short palpebral fissures, but optic nerve hypoplasia is the classic ocular abnormality linked to this condition. Lymphangioma, retinoblastoma, and ptosis are not characteristic associations with fetal alcohol syndrome; they do not reflect the typical impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the visual pathway.