title: Ophthalmological findings in relation to auxological data in moderate-to-late preterm preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate ophthalmological findings in preschool children born moderate-to- late preterm (MLP) and relate the findings to auxological data at birth and at 5.5 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight MLP children [gestational age (GA) 32-36 weeks; 34 girls; mean age 5.7 years] were investigated. Gestational age, weight, length and head circumference at birth and at the time of assessment were registered. Visual acuity (VA), refraction, orthoptic evaluation, slit-lamp examination and ophthalmoscopy were conducted, and a history of visuoperceptual problems was recorded. The data were compared with age- and sex-matched controls born full term (n = 35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ophthalmological abnormalities were noted in 82% of MLP children and 47% of controls (p = 0.0004). There was a significant difference with regard to impaired motility (p = 0.03), heterophoria at distance (p = 0.006) and refraction expressed as spherical equivalent dioptre (p = 0.01). Amongst auxological data at birth, birthweight (BW) was the strongest predictor to ophthalmological abnormalities (p = 0.0003). In a stepwise logistic regression, GA was the strongest predictor of VA outcome at time of assessment (p = 0.0036). Moderate-to-late preterm birth showed a 2.4-fold increased risk of refractive errors compared with full-term children (RR 2.39: 95% CI 1.10-5.20; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings, MLP birth may be associated with increased ocular morbidity compared with their full-term counterparts. Auxological data at birth, especially BW, seems to be an important factor when conducting an ophthalmological diagnosis in preschool MLP children, and an increased VA was correlated to a higher GA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aring
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jovanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann-Katrine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson Grönlund
mesh_terms: D058452:Axial Length, Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009988:Orthoptics; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: auxological data; birthweight; moderate-to-late preterm; ocular misalignment; small for gestational age; visuoperceptual problems