Prematures with and without regressed retinopathy of prematurity: comparison of long-term (6-10 years) ophthalmological morbidity

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1989 Nov-Dec;26(6):271-5. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19891101-05.

Abstract

Forty-two ex-prematures having had regressed forms of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) during the neonatal period were compared with 42 matched non-ROP ex-premature controls at ages 6 to 10 years. The overall incidence of ophthalmologic problems was 55% in the ROP and 36% in the non-ROP group. Strabismus, amblyopia, and refraction anomalies occurred more frequently in the ROP group. In this group, a significantly greater number of children had decreased vision in one or both eyes compared to the non-ROP group. Although the incidence of ophthalmologic problems in the ROP group was considerably higher, the incidence in the non-ROP group still turned out unexpectedly high. this implicates that non-ROP very low birth weight neonates should also be considered to be at a greatly increased risk for later visual problems. Regular ocular examinations, mandatory for the ROP group, thus should be included in follow-up programs of non-ROP very low birthweight neonates as well.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amblyopia / epidemiology
  • Amblyopia / etiology
  • Child
  • Eye Diseases / epidemiology
  • Eye Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Morbidity
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Refractive Errors / epidemiology
  • Refractive Errors / etiology
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / complications*
  • Strabismus / epidemiology
  • Strabismus / etiology