Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns
Published on: October 24, 2019
Visual function in 6 to 7 year-old children born extremely preterm: a population-based study
Olav H Haugen1, Lise Nepstad, Odd Arne Standal
1Department of Ophthalmology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. olav.haugen@helse-bergen.no
Insights
Extremely preterm infants show favorable long-term visual outcomes, with visual acuity linked to cognitive and motor skills. This suggests improved neonatal care positively impacts visual development in high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care advancements have increased survival rates for extremely preterm infants.
- Long-term visual function and ocular development require further investigation in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess long-term visual function and ocular development in extremely preterm infants.
- To correlate visual outcomes with neonatal morbidity and neurodevelopmental status.
Main Methods:
- An unselected cohort of 52 extremely preterm infants (22-27 weeks gestation) underwent comprehensive eye examinations.
- Visual acuity, refractive error, binocular function, and accommodation were evaluated.
- Cognitive (WPSSI-R) and motor (ABC test) functions were assessed.
Main Results:
- No infants were blind or visually impaired; 46% had subnormal visual acuity (logMAR ≥0.1).
- Most infants were emmetropic or hypermetropic (90%); 51% had latent strabismus.
- Visual acuity correlated significantly with performance IQ and motor abilities (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Survivors of extreme prematurity demonstrate a more favorable long-term visual prognosis than previously reported.
- Performance IQ and motor function are significant predictors of visual acuity in this cohort.
Purpose:
Progress in neonatal care has caused an increased survival of children born extremely preterm. The aims of this study were to examine the long-term visual function and ocular development in an unselected cohort of extremely preterm infants and relate the results to neonatal morbidity and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome.
Methods:
All children with gestational age of 22-27 completed weeks or birth weight of 500-999 g born in the years 1999-2000 in two counties of Western Norway (n = 52) were invited to an eye examination that included visual acuity, refractive error, binocular function, accommodative amplitude and fundus examination. Cognitive function was assessed with the WPSSI-R test and motor abilities with the ABC movement test.
Results:
Neonatal morbidities and neurodevelopmental outcome were known for all, while 37 of the 52 children underwent the eye examination. None were blind or visually impaired, but 46% had subnormal visual acuity (logMAR ≥0.1). Ninety per cent were emmetropic or slightly hypermetropic (0 to +3D), while 10% had manifest and 51% latent strabismus. Performance IQ on the WPSSI-R test and ABC total score were associated with best visual acuity (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively). In a multiple linear regression model, visual acuity in the best eye was significantly associated with performance IQ (p = 0.03) and ABC total score (p = 0.02).
Conclusion:
This study suggests a more favourable long-term prognosis on important ocular and visual parameters in survivors of extreme prematurity than expected from similar reports on children born less prematurely and that performance IQ and motor function are related to visual acuity.
