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A comparative study of stereopsis in term and preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity
Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang1,2,3, Ying-Jiun Chong4, Kuan-Jen Chen1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
Stereopsis improves with age, with term-born children showing better vision than preterm. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) impacts stereopsis, and younger gestational age is a risk factor for poorer stereoacuity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Vision Science
Background:
- Stereopsis, the ability to perceive depth, is crucial for visual development.
- Preterm birth and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are known risk factors for visual impairments.
- Understanding stereopsis development in these populations is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare stereopsis in term-born, preterm, and preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its treatments.
- To identify factors influencing stereopsis development in these diverse pediatric groups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 322 children aged 3-11 years.
- Participants included term-born and preterm children, with and without ROP, and with or without ROP treatment (laser, intravitreal injection [IVI]).
- Stereoacuity was assessed using the Titmus Stereo Test.
Main Results:
- Stereopsis improved significantly with age across all groups (P < 0.001).
- Term-born children demonstrated significantly better stereoacuity than preterm children (P < 0.001).
- Younger age at testing and younger gestational age were independently associated with poorer stereopsis (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Stereopsis development is age-dependent and generally poorer in preterm children compared to term-born children.
- While ROP affects stereopsis, treatment modality (laser vs. IVI) did not show significant differences in stereoacuity outcomes.
- Gestational age and age at testing are critical factors influencing stereopsis outcomes in children.
Purpose:
To evaluate stereopsis in term-born, preterm, and preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its treatment.
Methods:
The cross-sectional study included 322 children between 3 and 11 years of age born term or preterm, with or without ROP, and with or without treatment for ROP. The ROP treatments were laser therapy, intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or their combination. Stereoacuity was measured using the Titmus Stereo Test, and the results among various age groups were analyzed.
Results:
Stereopsis was found to improve with increasing age at testing (P < 0.001) across the entire study population. The term group exhibited significantly better stereoacuity than the preterm group (P < 0.001). At 3-5 years and 6-8 years, the preterm children without ROP exhibited significantly better stereoacuity than did those with ROP (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively); however, at 9-11 years, both groups exhibited similar stereoacuity (P = 0.34). The stereoacuity in the children with untreated ROP was similar to that of the children with treated ROP in all age groups (P > 0.05). No significant differences in stereopsis were identified between children with ROP treated with laser versus with IVI (P > 0.05). From multivariate analysis, younger age at testing (P = 0.001) and younger gestational age (P < 0.001) were associated with poorer stereopsis.
Conclusions:
Stereopsis development gradually improved with age in all groups. The children born preterm exhibited poorer stereoacuity than those born term. Children with ROP treated with laser photocoagulation versus IVI may exhibit similar levels of stereoacuity. Younger age at testing and gestational age were independent risk factors for poorer stereoacuity.
