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Visual acuity in extremely low birth weight infants
1Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
Insights
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants show lower visual acuity than full-term infants, particularly after 9 months. Neonatal complications like bronchopulmonary dysplasia impact long-term visual function.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Increased survival rates of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants necessitate understanding their developmental outcomes.
- ELBW infants face a higher risk of visual impairment, requiring accurate assessment tools.
- Current understanding of visual functioning in ELBW survivors needs refinement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess grating visual acuity in survivors of extreme prematurity.
- To compare visual acuity in ELBW infants with full-term infants of similar postconceptional age.
- To identify factors associated with visual impairment in ELBW infants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Teller Acuity Cards to measure grating visual acuity.
- Assessed 26 ELBW infants with corrected ages ranging from 2 to 42 months.
- Correlated visual acuity scores with neonatal complications and the Neonatal Medical Index.
Main Results:
- Most ELBW infants' visual acuity scores were within the normal range.
- Visual acuity was significantly lower in ELBW infants compared to full-term infants, especially after 9 months corrected age.
- Neonatal complications, particularly bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and the Neonatal Medical Index were linked to lower visual acuity.
Conclusions:
- ELBW infants exhibit delayed visual acuity development compared to their full-term peers.
- Neonatal health status significantly influences visual outcomes in ELBW survivors.
- Early identification and monitoring of visual function are crucial for ELBW infants.
Abstract:
The increased viability of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (those weighing less than 1,000 g) and the associated increased risk of visual impairment has highlighted the need for reliable indices of visual functioning for this population. By use of the Teller Acuity Cards, we assessed grating visual acuity in 26 survivors of extreme prematurity (corrected age, 2-42 mo) and found that although most scores were within the normal range, they were significantly lower than those of full-term infants of equivalent postconceptional age, especially after 9 months of age. Moreover, the number of complications in the neonatal period (especially bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and the Neonatal Medical Index classification were associated with below-average visual acuity in infancy and early childhood.