Reduced lighting does not improve medical outcomes in very low birth weight infants

Objective: To objectively assess the effect of light reduction as an isolat ed environmental intervention on neonatal morbidity. Study design: Randomized multicenter trial. Neonates < 1251 g bir-th weight and < 31 weeks gestational age were randomly assigned to receive goggles o r to a control group. Goggles that reduced visible light by 97% were placed within 24 hours of birth and remained in use until 31 weeks postmenstrual age or for a minimum of 4 weeks. Results: Four hundred nine infants were enrolled, and outcome data are repo rted for 359 surviving infants. There were no significant differences betwe en the groups in weight gain, duration of oxygen therapy, mechanical ventil ation, or hospital stay either in the unadjusted analyses or in the analyse s adjusted for birth weight, gestational age, race, sex, and inborn (born i n study hospital) status. There was no difference between the groups In the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusions: This randomized trial of continuous light reduction in the fir st few weeks of life for very low bir-th weight infants showed no effect on medical outcomes.