title: Visual function at 35 and 40 weeks' postmenstrual age in low-risk preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to (1) assess visual function in low-risk preterm infants at 35 and 40 weeks' postmenstrual age, (2) compare preterm visual abilities at term-equivalent age with term-born infants, and (3) evaluate effects of preterm extrauterine life on early visual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual function was assessed by using a validated test battery at 35 and 40 weeks' postmenstrual age in 109 low-risk preterm infants who were born at <31 weeks' gestation. The preterm findings were compared with data from term-born infants collected by using the same test protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All preterm infants completed both assessments. The 35-week responses were generally less mature than those at 40 weeks. Preterm infants at both ages were significantly more mature than term-born infants for ocular movements and vertical and arc tracking and at 40 weeks for stripe discrimination. In contrast, tracking a colored stimulus, attention at distance, and stripe discrimination were more mature at term age (in both term-born and preterm infants) than at 35 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provide data for visual function at 35 and 40 weeks' postmenstrual age in low-risk preterm infants. The results suggest that early extrauterine experience may accelerate the maturation of aspects of visual function related to ocular stability and tracking but does not seem to affect other aspects that may be more cortically mediated.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University, Pediatric Neurology Unit, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cesarini
authors.forename: Domenico M M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groppo
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lepore
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molle
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ratiglia
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guzzetta
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Luca A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ramenghi
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercuri
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D047929:Term Birth; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*