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Updated: May 7, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Ophthalmological outcome and visuospatial ability in very preterm children measured at 2.5 years corrected age
J Hreinsdottir1, U Ewald, K Strand Brodd
1Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Very preterm children often experience eye and visual issues, with 12% affected by conditions like strabismus. These children also demonstrated challenges with visuospatial tasks involving complex shapes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal ophthalmology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Cognitive neuroscience
Background:
- Very preterm birth (<32 weeks gestational age) poses risks for neurodevelopmental and ophthalmological outcomes.
- Early assessment is crucial for identifying visual and cognitive deficits in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ophthalmological status in very preterm children at 2.5 years corrected age (CA).
- To assess visuospatial and cognitive abilities in very preterm children compared to term-born controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, population-based cohort study (LOVIS study) of 111 very preterm infants born in Uppsala County, Sweden.
- Ophthalmic examinations performed on 89.9% of survivors at 2.5 years CA.
- Visuospatial cognition assessed using a block insertion task in 48 preterm and 25 term-born children.
Main Results:
- 12% of very preterm children exhibited visual impairment, strabismus, or refractive errors.
- Strabismus was associated with periventricular leucomalacia/intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 9.6).
- Refractive errors correlated with severe retinopathy of prematurity (OR 9.8) and lower gestational age (OR 0.763).
- Preterm children showed significantly greater difficulty with oval and rectangular blocks (p=0.048, p=0.013).
- Total block task scores correlated negatively with gestational age (p=0.035).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of very preterm children experience ophthalmological issues by 30 months corrected age.
- Preterm infants demonstrate impaired visuospatial processing, particularly with complex shapes.
- Gestational age is a key factor influencing both visual and cognitive outcomes in preterm infants.
Aim:
To investigate the ophthalmological outcome of very preterm children at 2.5 years corrected age (CA) and perform a test of visuospatial and cognitive abilities.
Methods:
A population-based, prospective study (LOVIS study) in Uppsala County, Sweden, comprised 111 very preterm children (<32 w gestational age [GA]) born between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2007. Ophthalmic evaluations were undertaken in 98/109 children (89.9%) alive at 2.5 years. Spatial cognition was investigated with a test of five alternative blocks in 48 preterm and 25 term-born children.
Results:
Visual impairment, strabismus or refractive errors, were found in 12% of the children. None of the children were blind in both eyes. Logistic regression analyses revealed significant associations between strabismus and periventricular leucomalacia/intraventricular haemorrhage (OR 9.6, p = 0.025) and between refractive errors and severe retinopathy of prematurity (OR 9.8, p = 0.011) and GA (OR 0.763, p = 0.034). Oval and rectangular blocks were significantly more difficult to insert into a box for preterm than full-term children (p = 0.048 and 0.013, respectively). There was a significant correlation between total scores for the five blocks and GA at birth (p = 0.035).
Conclusion:
Eye and visual problems were found in 12% of the preterm children at 30 months CA. Preterm children had difficulties with blocks of complex shapes.
