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Refractive errors and refractive development in premature infants
O Ozdemir1, Z Ozen Tunay1, D Erginturk Acar1
1Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Refractive errors in premature infants are linked to gestational age and birth weight. Lower birth weight and earlier gestational age correlate with lower spherical equivalent in preterm babies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Refractive errors are common in premature infants.
- Understanding refractive development is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate refractive errors and their development in premature infants.
- To analyze factors influencing refractive development in preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal examination of premature infants (28-58 weeks postmenstrual age) in a retinopathy of prematurity screening program.
- Cycloplegic retinoscopy using 1% tropicamide to assess refractive status.
- Recording birth weight, gestational age, gender, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) disease status.
Main Results:
- Spherical equivalent significantly correlated with postmenstrual age (r=0.512, P<0.01).
- Gestational age (r(2)=0.30) and birth weight (r(2)=0.22) significantly impacted refractive error development.
- Lower birth weight and earlier gestational age were associated with lower spherical equivalent.
Conclusions:
- Low gestational age and low birth weight in preterm infants are linked to lower spherical equivalent.
- Spherical equivalent shows a significant positive correlation with increasing postmenstrual age.
- Astigmatism did not correlate with postmenstrual age, gestational age, or birth weight in this cohort.
Purpose:
To examine refractive errors and refractive development in premature infants.
Methods:
Premature infants in the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening program were recruited and examined longitudinally between 28 and 58 weeks postmenstrual age. For performing cycloplegic retinoscopy, 1% tropicamide was administered, two drops with a 10-minute interval, in order to paralyze accommodation and to achieve cycloplegia. Birth weight, gestational age, gender and acute ROP disease were recorded. The relationship between spherical equivalent, astigmatism and postmenstrual age was evaluated.
Results:
A total of 798 readings were obtained from 258 infants (131 females, 127 males) between 28 and 58 weeks postmenstrual age. The median number of examinations was 3 (minimum 1, maximum 7). In the comparisons of birth weight, gestational age, spherical equivalent and astigmatism between genders, there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Gestational age (regression analysis, r(2)=0.30, P<0.01) and birth weight (regression analysis, r(2)=0.22, P<0.01) had a significant effect on refractive error development. Preterm babies with lower birth weight and those born more prematurely had lower spherical equivalent. The spherical equivalent of the eyes correlated significantly with the postmenstrual age of the infants (r=0.512, P<0.01).
Conclusions:
Infants with low gestational age and low birth weight also had low spherical equivalent. Moreover, spherical equivalent correlated with increasing postmenstrual age. However, astigmatism did not correlate with postmenstrual age and did not associate with gestational age or birth weight.
