A functional approach to cerebral visual impairments in very preterm/very-low-birth-weight children.
BACKGROUND
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a major cause of visual impairment, with very preterm birth/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) being a major risk factor. There is no generally accepted definition of CVI. This study aims to investigate the usefulness of an empirically-based functional definition of CVI.


METHODS
One-hundred-five VP/VLBW children and 67 controls participated. CVI was defined after comprehensive oculomotor, visual sensory and perceptive assessment, and validated against vision problems in daily life and in terms of intellectual, behavioral, emotional and social functioning, as well as use of therapeutic services.


RESULTS
Twenty-four per cent of the VP/VLBW children met criteria for CVI, compared to 7% of controls (P = 0.006, OR: 3.86, 95% CI: 1.40-10.70). VP/VLBW children with CVI had lower performance IQ, but not verbal IQ, than those without CVI. Visual problems in daily life were confirmed in VP/VLBW children classified with CVI. Additionally, difficulties in behavioral and social functioning were most prominent among VP/VLBW children with CVI.


CONCLUSIONS
In VP/VLBW children, CVI defined in terms of visual function deficits is accompanied by intellectual, behavioral, and social impairments, validating our operational definition of CVI. CVI might act as a marker for developmental problems in VP/VLBW children.
1] Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2] Royal Dutch Visio, Centre of Expertise for Blind and Partially Sighted People, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Christiaan J A
0000000169126099
CJ
Geldof
Department of Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Aleid G
AG
van Wassenaer-Leemhuis
Royal Dutch Visio, Centre of Expertise for Blind and Partially Sighted People, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marjolein
M
Dik
Department of Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Joke H
JH
Kok
1] Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2] Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jaap
J
Oosterlaan
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*