Axial Length and Anterior Segment Alterations in Former Preterm Infants and Full-Term Neonates Analyzed With Scheimpflug Imaging

Abstract

This study demonstrated altered axial length and anterior segment morphology in former preterm infants, especially in the first years of life. In addition, we observed that preterm infants seemed to catch up, so that the differences in ocular growth in terms of spherical equivalent, astigmatism, and axial length decreased within the first 8 years of life.

Association of low birth weight with myopic refractive error and lower visual acuity in adulthood: results from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)

“…Others have hypothesised that differences for astigmatism between former preterm low BW infants and full-term infants diminish step by step in infancy until 8 years of age 20. This finding is in congruence to our study as we did not detect any association between BW and astigmatism, neither when analysing continuous data nor in the adjusted models.…”

“…Therefore, the absence of gestational age has to be seen as substantial confounder. It is well known that there is a correlation between prematurity and low visual acuity respective higher myopic refractive error 20. This should be considered when interpreting our results.…”

“…A further restriction is the lack of postnatal documented retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) occurrence. Consequently, we cannot exclude that this affects particularly the association between low BW and increased myopia development as it is well known that ROP is associated with myopic refractive error 20. Another restriction could be the fact that ocular comorbidities were self-reported and thus may affect our results as there may be participants not knowing their disease yet although about 60% of all participants reported that they had ophthalmological control examinations at regular intervals within the last years before participating in our study.…”

“…In a large cross-sectional study of 239 former preterm and 264 former full-term infants aged  4–10 years, the authors observed that the difference in refractive error diminishes within the first eight years of life 20. However, the impact of low BW on refractive long-term outcome was still unclear.…”

“…Holmström et al 18 described a stable refractive error in the first 10 years of life for infants with a BW of ≤1500 g. Some authors observed only weak effects on refractive long-term outcomes on myopia in school-aged children 3 19. Other authors have reported that refractive error diminished between former preterm infants with low BW and full-term infants until the age of 8 years 20. In two twin studies that included participants with a wide age range from early adulthood up to 80 years, no association was found between BW and myopia, and the authors even assumed that compensatory emmetropisation processes lead to normal refraction 21 22.…”