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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Visual Outcome of Preterm Infants Screened in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Anuja Sathar1, Shanavas Abbas2, Zinia T Nujum3
1Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects 25% of preterm infants, leading to higher rates of refractive errors and strabismus. Early detection and management are crucial for improving visual outcomes in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in preterm infants.
- Preterm infants, especially those with gestational age ≤32 weeks or birth weight ≤1500 g, are at high risk for ROP and associated ocular morbidities.
- Understanding the incidence and visual outcomes in this population is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a cohort of preterm infants.
- To compare the visual outcomes, including refractive errors and strabismus, between preterm infants with and without ROP.
- To assess the risk of developing strabismus in infants with ROP.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 812 preterm infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks and/or birth weight ≤1500 g) were evaluated.
- Visual outcomes were assessed at 15 months using fixation behavior, cycloplegic refraction, and Cardiff acuity cards.
- Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests, t-tests, and estimation of relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.
Main Results:
- The incidence of ROP was 25%.
- Common refractive errors included myopia (15.8%), hypermetropia (6%), and astigmatism (55.6%). Strabismus occurred in 1.8% of the cohort.
- Infants with ROP showed a higher incidence of myopia and a significantly increased risk (RR=6.02) of developing strabismus compared to those without ROP.
Conclusions:
- Ophthalmological morbidities, including refractive errors and strabismus, are prevalent in preterm infants.
- The incidence of these conditions is notably higher in infants diagnosed with ROP.
- This highlights the importance of comprehensive eye screening and management for preterm infants to mitigate visual impairment risks.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants and to compare the visual outcomes in babies with and without ROP.
Materials And Methods:
A consecutive cohort of 812 preterm babies were recruited with gestational age ≤32 weeks and or birth weight ≤1500 g. The outcome was assessed at the end of 15 months by determining fixation behavior, cycloplegic refraction, and vision by Cardiff cards. Incidence of visual outcomes with 95% confidence limits and relative risks were estimated. Chi-squared test and t-test were used as tests of significance.
Results:
The incidence of ROP was 25%. The incidence of myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, and strabismus were 15.8% (14.3-17.3), 6% (5.1-7.1), 55.6% (53.6-57.7), and 1.8% (1.4%-2.5%), respectively, in the cohort. The most common refractive error in terms of spherical equivalence was myopia (19.8% in ROP and 14.4% in non-ROP group). The mean visual acuity measured by Cardiff Acuity cards was 0.282 and 0.27 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units (right eye) and 0.293 and 0.277 (left eye) in patients with and without ROP, respectively. Strabismus was present in 5% of ROP group and 0.8% of non-ROP group babies. Babies with ROP had six times (risk ratio-6.02; 95% confidence interval 2.8-12.8) higher chance of developing strabismus than those without ROP.
Conclusions:
Ophthalmological morbidities in premature infants such as refractive errors and strabismus are high in addition to complications like ROP. The incidence of these conditions is more in infants with ROP when compared to non-ROP group.
