REFRACTIVE ERRORS IN CHILDREN BORN BEFORE 32 WEEKS GESTATION

Purpose: To document the refractive errors in a cohort of children bor n before 32 weeks gestation. Methods: All children born before 32 week s gestation between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1991 to mothers res ident in the Northern Region of the National Health Service were exami ned at 2 years old (n = 558). Results: Stage 3 or worse retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was associated with myopia. In those not developing stage 3 or worse ROP, the refractive errors were myopia in 1.5%, hype rmetropia >4 dioptres (D) in 5.4%, anisometropia >1 D in 1.1% and asti gmatism >1.25 D in 5.7%. Conclusion: The incidence of refractive error s in those not developing stage 3 or worse ROP was similar to that in the general population.