A population-based study of the refractive outcome in 10-year-old preterm and full-term children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the refractive outcome in 10-year-old prematurely born children and in full-term control children.


METHODS
Retinoscopy during cycloplegia was performed in 213 prematurely born children from a previous population-based study on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity and in 217 children born at term. The spherical equivalent, astigmatism, anisometropia, and significant refractive errors (defined as hypermetropia >3 diopters [D], myopia < or =-1 D, astigmatism > or =1 D in 1 or both eyes, and/or anisometropia > or =1 D) were analyzed.


RESULTS
Significant refractive errors were found in 29.6% of the prematurely born and in 7.8% of the full-term children. Prematurely born children had higher prevalences of hypermetropia of more than 3 D, myopia of -1 D or less, astigmatism of 1 D or more, and anisometropia of 1 D or more than those born at term. In the preterm group, the cryotreated children had the greatest risk of refractive errors (16 [64%] of 25 children), with higher prevalences of myopia (<0, < or =-1, or <-3 D), astigmatism (> or =1 D), and anisometropia (> or =1 D).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant refractive errors were 4 times more common in 10-year-old prematurely born children than in full-term controls. Cryotreated children had the highest risk, but prematurity per se was also associated with refractive errors. Ophthalmological follow-up of prematurely born children should, therefore, also include children without retinopathy of prematurity in the neonatal period.
Larsson
Eva K
EK
Department of Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Rydberg
Agneta C
AC
Holmström
Gerd E
GE
D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology