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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Vision-related quality of life in children with retinopathy of prematurity
Alcione Aparecida Messa1, Ricardo Belfort Mattos1, Kelsy Catherina Nema Areco2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BR.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) negatively impacts children's vision-related quality of life. Children with ROP scored lower on all aspects of the Children's Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant concern in premature infants.
- Assessing the long-term impact of ROP on a child's development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) on vision-related quality of life in children.
- To compare vision-related quality of life between children with ROP and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Children's Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ) to assess vision-related quality of life.
- Included parents of premature children up to 3 years of age.
- Compared a group with ROP (n=43) to a control group of premature children with normal vision (n=45).
Main Results:
- Children with ROP demonstrated significantly lower scores on the CVFQ Total Index and all subscales compared to the control group.
- Severity of ROP correlated with lower scores in Vision Health and Competence.
- The ROP group showed a diminished overall vision-related quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Retinopathy of prematurity has a demonstrable negative effect on children's vision-related quality of life.
- Early identification and management of ROP are essential to mitigate long-term functional impacts.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) on vision-related quality of life in children.
Methods:
The Children's Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ), an instrument that evaluates vision-related quality of life in children, was used. It is divided into 6 subscales: General Health, Vision Health, Competence, Personality, Family Impact, and Treatment. The sample consisted of parents of premature children up to 3 years of age who had ROP and no neurological damage (ROP group) and parents of premature children up to 3 years of age who had normal vision and absence of other diseases (control group).
Results:
There were 88 subjects in total, 43 in the ROP group and 45 in the control group. The ROP group had lower scores on the CVFQ than the control group. The Total Index and all CVFQ subscale scores and for were significant lower in the ROP group than in the control group. The ROP group was divided according to the severity of the disease. The Total Index, Vision Health, and Competence scores in children with more severe ROP were significantly lower than those in children with less severe ROP.
Conclusion:
ROP was shown to have a negative effect on vision-related quality of life in children.
