Ophthalmological findings in relation to auxological data in moderate‐to‐late preterm preschool children

Purpose 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). Conclusion 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.