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Ophthalmologic follow-up of premature twins and triplets
L Tomazzoli1, G Renzi, C Mansoldo
1Institute of Ophthalmology, Borgo Trento Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. laura.tomazzoli@univr.it
Insights
Multiple gestation does not increase risks for premature infants
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Perinatology
Background:
- Premature infants face health challenges.
- Multiple gestation status may impact infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess multiple gestation's influence on premature infants' visual health.
- Compare health of lowest birth weight multiples to siblings.
- Evaluate visual apparatus and general health in premature twins/triplets.
Main Methods:
- Monitored 77 premature twins/triplets (8-54 months) and 120 premature singletons.
- Compared visual acuity, ocular motility, strabismus, and refraction.
- Assessed dioptric media and fundus oculi.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in retinopathy of prematurity, refraction defects, or strabismus between multiple and singleton births.
- Lowest birth weight multiples showed higher rates of eye morbidity, but not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Premature infants have inherent disadvantages regardless of birth status.
- Multiple gestation does not introduce additional risks beyond prematurity itself.
Purpose:
To assess the influence of multiple gestation on the visual apparatus and on the general state of health of premature infants and to investigate the condition of the twin or triplet with the lowest birth weight compared to multiple gestation siblings.
Methods:
Seventy-seven premature twins or triplets (8 to 54 months of age) were monitored at the Verona University Ophthalmology Department from November 1995 to November 1999. In another 12 subjects (younger than 8 months), only the neonatal disease records were examined; these subjects were excluded from the ophthalmologic follow-up because they were too young to be tested reliably. The study sample was compared with 120 premature singletons monitored from January 1996 to March 1998. Visual acuity, ocular motility, strabismus, refraction defects, dioptric media, and fundus oculi were assessed.
Results:
The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity, refraction defects, or strabismus was not significantly different between premature twins or triplets and premature singletons. The twin or triplet with the lowest birth weight was more frequently affected by eye morbidity and the diseases typical of prematurity. This difference, however, was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Premature infants are at a disadvantage compared to those born at term, irrespective of multiple birth status; multiple gestation adds no risk beyond that due to prematurity.
