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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Comparative study of visual functions in premature pre-school children with and without retinopathy of prematurity
Lígia Beatriz Bonotto1, Ana Tereza Ramos Moreira2, Silvia Chuffi3
1Hospital de Olhos Sadalla Amin Ghanem, Catarina, SC, Brazil.
Insights
This study found no significant differences in visual functions among premature infants with treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), those with spontaneous ROP regression, and a control group. Further research is needed on specific visual functions in older premature children.
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 outcomes in infants with treated or regressed ROP is crucial for clinical management.
- Comparing visual functions across different ROP statuses helps identify potential areas for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare visual functions in premature infants with treated ROP versus those with spontaneous ROP regression.
- To assess visual function differences between ROP groups (treated and regressed) and a control group without ROP.
- To investigate visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, and stereopsis in these infant cohorts.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study included premature infants (gestational age ≤ 32 weeks, birth weight ≤ 1599g) born between 1992-2006.
- Infants were categorized into three groups: ROP post-treatment (G1), ROP post-spontaneous regression (G2), and no ROP (G3).
- Visual functions including visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CST), color tests (CT), eye movement, and stereopsis were evaluated.
Main Results:
- While most infants in the control group (G3) had normal visual acuity, G1 and G2 showed lower percentages.
- Contrast sensitivity was highest in G2, while G1 showed lower performance in Farnsworth color tests.
- Stereoacuity was notably absent in G1 and significantly lower in G3 compared to G2. Strabismus was present in G2.
Conclusions:
- Despite observed variations in specific visual tests, the study found no statistically significant differences in overall visual functions among the three groups.
- The results suggest that long-term visual outcomes may be comparable across treated ROP, regressed ROP, and control groups.
- Further investigation into specific visual functions, like color vision in older premature children, is warranted.
Purpose:
Observe whether there are differences in visual functions among premature infants with treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in relation to preterm infants with ROP and spontaneous regression; and among these two groups with ROP and the control group without ROP.
Methods:
Cross-sectional observational no blind study. Premature infants were born between 06/199206/2006 and were exam between 06/200912/2010; registered in data of Hospital de Olhos Sandalla Amin Ghanem; with gestational age less than or equal to 32 weeks and 1,599 g born weigh; without ROP and ROP stages II or III, in one of the eyes, with spontaneous regression or with treatment; at least three visits during the selection period at maximum 6 months in the first exam and minimum 4 years of age in reassessment (chronological age) were include. Premature that did not respond or were not located for reassessment and those that did not have conditions to do the exams were exclude. Study's groups: G1 ROP posttreatment; G2ROP post-spontaneous regression; G3 without ROP (control). Visual function evaluated with visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity test (CST), color test (CT), eye movement, stereopsis.
Results:
Overall, there were 24 premature infants and 48 eyes. Normal VA: 64.28% (G1), 87.5% (G2) and 100% (G3); Normal CST: 66.67% (G1), 100% (G2) and 55.56% (G3); Normal Ishihara CT: 100% (G1 and G2) and 86% (G3); Normal Farnsworth CT: 20% (G1), 75% (G2) and 50% (G3). Normal stereoacuity: 0.00% (G1); 25% (G2) and 3.5% (G3). Strabismus: 37% (G2), 0.00% (G1 and G3). The prevalent tendency for lower response in CST and CT between the premature children in group G3 and Farnsworth color test in G1 is a curious result of this work and more study is necessary about these visual functions in older premature children.
Conclusion:
The visual functions showed no statistically significant difference among the groups studied.
