title: Refractive errors and refractive development in premature infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine refractive errors and refractive development in premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premature infants in the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening program were recruited and examined longitudinally between 28 and 58 weeks postmenstrual age. For performing cycloplegic retinoscopy, 1% tropicamide was administered, two drops with a 10-minute interval, in order to paralyze accommodation and to achieve cycloplegia. Birth weight, gestational age, gender and acute ROP disease were recorded. The relationship between spherical equivalent, astigmatism and postmenstrual age was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 798 readings were obtained from 258 infants (131 females, 127 males) between 28 and 58 weeks postmenstrual age. The median number of examinations was 3 (minimum 1, maximum 7). In the comparisons of birth weight, gestational age, spherical equivalent and astigmatism between genders, there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Gestational age (regression analysis, r(2)=0.30, P<0.01) and birth weight (regression analysis, r(2)=0.22, P<0.01) had a significant effect on refractive error development. Preterm babies with lower birth weight and those born more prematurely had lower spherical equivalent. The spherical equivalent of the eyes correlated significantly with the postmenstrual age of the infants (r=0.512, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants with low gestational age and low birth weight also had low spherical equivalent. Moreover, spherical equivalent correlated with increasing postmenstrual age. However, astigmatism did not correlate with postmenstrual age and did not associate with gestational age or birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozdemirozdemir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Z Ozen
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Tunay
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: D Erginturk
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Kastamonu Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Acar
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology; D042262:Retinoscopy
keywords: Hypermétropie; Hyperopia; Myopia; Myopie; Refraction; Refractive status; Retinopathy of prematurity; Retinoscopy; Réfraction; Rétinopathie du prématuré; Rétinoscopie; État de réfraction