Ocular manifestations in children born after in vitro fertilization

Objective: To report the ocular abnormalities found in children born after in vitro fertilization. Methods: Forty-seven children (25 girls and 22 boys) born after an in vitro fertilization pregnancy (mean +/- SD birth weight, 2335 +/- 817 g; range, 924-4300 g) and referred for ophthalmic evaluation were included in the stu dy. All underwent a thorough ocular examination. Obstetric history was gath ered following a detailed questionnaire with the mothers. Results: Of 70 eyes among nonverbal children, visual acuity was "normal for age" in 60 (86%), "fair" in 4 (6%), and "poor" in 6 (9%). Visual acuity in 24 eyes in verbal children ranged from 6/6 to no light perception, with 4 (17%) having poor vision. Cycloplegic refraction disclosed an emmetropia in 22 (27%), hypermetropia in 47 (57%), and myopia in 13 (16%) of the eyes. A nisometropia of more than 1.0 diopters was found in 8 children. Major ocula r malformations were observed in 12 (26%) of the 47 children. These malform ations included Coats disease, congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, hy poplastic optic nerve head, idiopathic optic atrophy, coloboma with microph thalmos, and retinoblastoma. Conclusions: Ocular anomalies were frequently observed in this cohort of of fspring born after in vitro fertilization. A diligent and prospective prena tal search for such malformations should unveil the real prevalence of ocul ar malformations in children born after in vitro fertilization.