Related Experiment Videos
Effects of perinatal hypoxia on visual development during the first year of (corrected) age
F Groenendaal1, J van Hof-van Duin, W Baerts
1Department of Physiology I, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Infants experiencing perinatal hypoxia often develop visual impairments within the first year. These visual deficits, particularly evident at 3 and 6 months, can occur independently of neuro-developmental issues.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Perinatal hypoxia is a significant risk factor for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants.
- Visual development is a critical component of early childhood development, and impairments can have long-lasting effects.
- Understanding the trajectory of visual function in infants with perinatal hypoxia is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare the visual development of preterm and fullterm infants with perinatal hypoxia against a control group of preterm infants.
- To identify the prevalence and timing of visual impairments in infants following perinatal hypoxia.
- To explore the relationship between perinatal hypoxia, neuro-developmental outcomes, and visual deficits.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral techniques were employed to test visual functions in 124 infants with perinatal hypoxia and 55 control preterm infants.
- Follow-up visits were conducted at the Sophia Children's Hospital, with corrected ages ranging from 3 months to 1 year.
- Ultrasound findings were correlated with observed visual dysfunctions.
Main Results:
- Infants with perinatal hypoxia exhibited significantly more visual function abnormalities compared to preterm controls during the first year of corrected age.
- Most visual impairments were observed at 3 and 6 months of corrected age.
- While all infants with severe neuro-developmental handicaps had visual deficits, these deficits could also manifest independently.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal hypoxia adversely affects visual development in infants, with impairments often detected within the first year.
- Gestational age at birth did not appear to influence the visual development outcome after perinatal hypoxia.
- Ultrasound abnormalities showed a strong correlation with visual dysfunctions, suggesting its utility in predicting visual impairments in this cohort.
Abstract:
Visual development was assessed in 124 infants (112 preterms and 12 fullterms) who had suffered from perinatal hypoxia and in 55 control preterm infants during the first year of corrected age. Using behavioural techniques, visual functions were tested during follow-up visits in the Sophia Children's Hospital. Corrected ages at testing ranged from 3 months to 1 year. During this period, infants with perinatal hypoxia showed more abnormalities in visual functions than preterm control infants. Gestational age at birth did not influence the outcome of visual development after perinatal hypoxia. Most visual impairments were demonstrated at 3 and 6 months of age. All infants with severe neuro-developmental handicaps showed visual deficits, although neuro-developmental abnormalities and visual deficits could be present as isolated phenomena. Ultrasound abnormalities related well with visual dysfunctions. Prospective studies of infants with visual deficits and a history of perinatal hypoxia are indicated.