Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:514-518 ( May )
Risk factors for strabismus in children born before 32 weeks'
gestation
Philippa M Pennefather,a
Michael P Clarke,a
Nicholas P Strong,a
David G Cottrell,b
Jonathan Dutton,c
Win Tind
a Department of
Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, b Department of Ophthalmology, Newcastle General
Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, c Department of Clinical Audit, Southport and
Formby District General Hospital, Southport, d Regional
Maternity Survey Office, Newcastle upon Tyne
Correspondence to: Mrs P M Pennefather, St Paul's Eye
Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7
8XP.
Accepted for publication 22 October 1998
AIM
To investigate
risk factors associated with strabismus in children born prematurely.
METHODSProspective
study of all children born before 32 weeks' gestation between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1991 in a geographically defined
population of approximately 3 million in the Northern Region of the
United Kingdom. All children were examined aged 2 years by the same
ophthalmologist and paediatrician.
RESULTS558 children
(98.6% of study group) were examined. Logistic regression showed
an increased risk of strabismus in children with cicatricial
retinopathy of prematurity (p=0.02), refractive error (p=0.003), family
history of strabismus (p<0.0001), and poor neurodevelopmental
outcome (p<0.0001), in particular impaired locomotor skills (p=0.008)
and hand-eye coordination (p=0.001). Gestational age and regressed
acute ROP were not independent risk factors for strabismus (p=0.92 and
0.85 respectively).
CONCLUSIONSThis study
has identified factors which are independently related to strabismus
(although not necessarily causative) and others which are related only
indirectly. This may contribute both to the management of children born
prematurely and to future studies of the aetiology of strabismus.
© 1999 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
