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Development of grating acuity in infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity
M Dogru1, H Shirabe, M Nakamura
1Kobe University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Japan. mymam956@mailgate.kobe-u.ac.jp
Insights
Infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) show significantly impaired visual acuity by 18-24 months. Early visual acuity monitoring is crucial for infants diagnosed with ROP to detect potential developmental issues.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Understanding the long-term visual development in infants with varying stages of ROP is critical for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess visual development in premature infants with stage 1-3 ROP.
- To compare visual outcomes of infants with ROP against healthy preterm controls.
Main Methods:
- 144 premature infants were categorized into three ROP stages, with a control group of infants without ROP.
- Ophthalmic examinations were conducted from 4-7 weeks post-birth until retinal vascularization or ROP resolution.
- Grating visual acuity was measured using acuity cards (35-45 weeks corrected age) and the Teller Acuity Cards (TAC) method (12, 18, 24 months).
Main Results:
- Infants with stage 3 ROP exhibited slightly lower visual acuity than other groups during the 35-45 week period, without statistical significance.
- At 12 months, infants with stage 2 and 3 ROP had similar, slightly lower acuity scores than those with stage 1 or no ROP.
- Significantly lower visual acuity scores were observed in infants with stage 3 ROP compared to stage 1-2 or no ROP groups at 18 and 24 months (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Periodic monitoring of early visual acuity is essential for infants diagnosed with ROP.
- Delayed visual impairment can occur in infants with ROP, necessitating ongoing assessment.
Purpose:
To evaluate the visual development in infants with stage 1 approximately 3 ROP and compare their visual results with healthy preterm infants.
Patients And Methods:
One hundred forty-four premature infants were recruited and were divided into 3 groups according to the stage of ROP. Randomly selected preterm subjects with no ROP were taken as controls. Ophthalmic examinations started 4 to 7 weeks after birth and were repeated as needed until the retina was fully vascularized or until any ROP that developed had resolved. Grating acuity was measured by acuity cards between 35-45 weeks of corrected age and by PL method at 12, 18 and 24 months of age.
Results:
Infants with stage 3 ROP had slightly lower visual acuity scores compared to other infants at most of the testing points throughout the 35-45 week period, which did not show statistical significance at any week. Infants with stage 2 and 3 ROP had similar visual acuity values but slightly lower acuity scores than infants with stage I or no ROP at the 12 month follow-up. The differences were not statistically significant. Stage 3 ROP infants had significantly lower acuity scores compared to infants with stage 1-2 or no ROP at the 18 and 24 month follow-up visits (p<0.0001).
Conclusion:
We stress periodic monitoring of early visual acuity in infants with ROP because of the possibility of impaired visual development.