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Pre-term delivery and subsequent ocular development. A 7-10 year follow-up of children screened 1982-84 for ROP. 2)
1Eye Department, Hillerød Sygehus and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University, Denmark.
Insights
Strabismus occurred in 17.8% of preterm children aged 7-10 years. Severe central nervous system damage was associated with a higher frequency of strabismus, unlike regressed retinopathy of prematurity or lower gestational age.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Children screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were assessed for binocular function.
- This cohort included preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks and birth weight of 1467g.
- Previous studies suggest a link between brain damage and strabismus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate binocular function in children with a history of prematurity.
- To determine the prevalence of strabismus in this cohort.
- To investigate the association between binocularity, ROP, gestational age, and central nervous system (CNS) damage.
Main Methods:
- Binocularity was assessed using cover tests, Schober, Worth four dot, and Titmus stereo tests.
- Data were collected from 88 children aged 7-10 years, with 84 subjects analyzed after exclusions.
- Subgroup analyses considered regressed ROP, gestational age, and severe CNS damage.
Main Results:
- An overall frequency of 17.8% for strabismus was observed.
- Binocularity patterns were not significantly affected by regressed ROP or gestational age (≤30 weeks).
- Children with severe CNS damage (n=24) showed more deviant binocularity patterns.
Conclusions:
- Strabismus is a significant finding in children with a history of prematurity.
- Severe CNS damage is strongly associated with strabismus in this population.
- ROP and gestational age were not found to be significant predictors of strabismus in this study.
Abstract:
Binocular function was assessed as part of a more extensive examining programme in 88 children now aged 7-10 years. Initially they joined a regional screening programme for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after pre-term delivery 1982-84; their mean values for gestational age and birth weight were 31 weeks and 1467 g, respectively. Binocularity was evaluated from cover test 6 m and 30 cm, Schober, Worth four dot, and Titmus stereo test. Excluding the four children with bilateral blindness due to ROP, 84 subjects were available, but occasional refusals were met also here. The overall frequency of 'strabismus' became 17.8%, as based on the combination of tests, and with emphasis on the sensory recordings. Binocularity patterns in subsamples were not significantly influenced by a) regressed ROP, b) gestational age 30 weeks and less. In contrast, c) the subgroup with severe CNS damage (n = 24) appeared more deviant, confirming the established association between brain damage and strabismus.