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Visual acuity, strabismus, and amblyopia in premature babies with and without retinopathy of prematurity
M Snir1, I Nissenkorn, I Sherf
1Department of Ophthalmology, Beilinson Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Insights
Premature babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) show higher rates of strabismus and amblyopia. This condition also significantly increases the likelihood of myopia and astigmatism in infants.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Early detection and management of ROP are crucial for preventing long-term ocular complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of various ocular abnormalities in premature infants with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- To determine the association between cicatricial ROP and strabismus incidence.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 187 premature babies was examined.
- Ophthalmological assessments were conducted to identify strabismus, amblyopia, myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, and hypermetropia.
- Babies were categorized into groups with and without ROP, and further analyzed for cicatricial ROP.
Main Results:
- Babies with ROP exhibited higher incidences of strabismus (23% vs. 9% in non-ROP), amblyopia (6% vs. 1.4%), myopia (50% vs. 15%), astigmatism, and anisometropia compared to those without ROP.
- Strabismus was particularly prevalent in infants with cicatricial ROP.
Conclusions:
- Retinopathy of prematurity is strongly associated with a higher risk of developing significant ocular morbidities in premature infants.
- These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive ophthalmological screening for all premature infants, especially those with ROP, to allow for timely intervention and management of visual impairments.
Abstract:
One hundred eighty-seven premature babies, 48 of whom suffered from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), were examined. A higher incidence of strabismus was found in the group with cicatricial ROP (23% vs. 9%). Amblyopia was present in 6% of the ROP group and in only 1.4% of babies without ROP. Myopia was found in 50% of the ROP group as compared with 15% in the nonROP group. Astigmatism and anisometropia were more common in the ROP group, but hypermetropia was equally represented in both groups.