Refractive Errors, Amblyopia and Strabismus in 3-year-old Premature Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the refractive status, anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus in 3-year-old premature children. METHODS: A total of 161 eyes from 82 premature infants were retrospectively reviewed and divided into three groups according to the presence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and treatment; Group 1 (68 eyes): without ROP, Group 2-1 (32 eyes): spontaneously regressed ROP, and Group 2-2 (61 eyes): regressed ROP with treatment. The incidences and clinical features of refractive errors, anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus at the age of three years were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The incidences of myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia and the severity of myopia increased according to the presence of ROP and treatment (p = 0.03, 0.02, 0.001, and 0.04, respectively). There were no significant differences in the incidences of hyperopia among the three groups; however, the severity of hyperopia in Group 2-2 was higher than those in the other two groups (p = 0.01). Patients in Group 1 had better best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared with those of the other two groups (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences in the incidences of strabismus or amblyopia among the three groups (p = 0.80 and 0.85, respectively) were found, and the ratio of esotropia : exotropia was 1:1.3. CONCLUSIONS: Regular ocular examination should be required in children who were born prematurely in order to detect and treat ophthalmologic problems such as refractive errors, amblyopia and strabismus.