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Ocular outcome in children born before 32 weeks gestation
P M Pennefather1, M P Clarke, N P Strong
1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Eye (London, England)
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Premature infants born before 32 weeks gestation often experience visual impairments. Early follow-up care for these children is crucial for identifying and treating vision abnormalities like strabismus and retinopathy of prematurity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Infants born prematurely, especially before 32 weeks gestation, are at increased risk for ocular complications.
- Understanding the long-term visual outcomes in this vulnerable population is essential for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the ocular outcomes at approximately 2 years of age in a cohort of children born before 32 weeks gestation.
- To determine the incidence of specific visual abnormalities in this high-risk group.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year cohort study was conducted within a defined population of 3 million.
- 565 children born before 32 weeks gestation were identified, and 558 (98.8%) were assessed at approximately 2 years old.
Main Results:
- A high incidence of ocular abnormalities was observed, including strabismus (12.5%), significant refractive errors (12.7%), sequelae of retinopathy of prematurity (2.9%), and cortical visual loss (1.3%).
- These findings highlight the significant visual morbidity in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- The study provides recent, gestational age-specific prognostic data for premature infants.
- Regular ophthalmological follow-up for preterm infants is critical for detecting visual impairments that can benefit from treatment.