Visual defects in children of low birthweight. Issue 11 (November 1982)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alberman, E; Benson, J; Evans, S
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 57:Issue 11(1982)
• Page Start: 818
• Page End: 822
• Publication Date: 1982-11
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.57.11.818
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : The prevalence of visual defects at ages 7 to 9 in 1485 children of birthweight 2000 g or less is reported. These children were born in 1970, 1971, and 1973 to parents resident in what is now the South East Thames Regional Health Authority area, and comprise 73.9% of all survivors of births of this weight, 81% of those whose present address is known. Only 16 (1%) children were reported to have serious visual defects; 5 had retrolental fibroplasia. For the children attending normal schools there was a significant excess of both mild and more severe visual defects compared with matched controls. A distant visual acuity of 6/6 was reported in the better eye of 89%, and in both eyes of 83% of the low birthweight group.