Refractive Status at Birth and Its Relation to Newborn Physical Parameters
Author Information
Author(s): Varghese Raji Mathew, Sreenivas Vishnubhatla, Puliyel Jacob Mammen, Varughese Sara
Primary Institution: St Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India
Hypothesis
Physical characteristics of the eye at birth may be correlated to physical characteristics like weight, length, and head circumference more closely than with gestational age.
Conclusion
Birth weight rather than gestational age should be used as criteria for screening for refractive error in newborns.
Supporting Evidence
- Preterm babies have myopia which decreases as gestational age increases.
- Birth weight had a higher correlation to mean spherical equivalent than gestational age.
- Simple linear regression showed a significant relation between refractive error and all four study variables.
Takeaway
This study found that how much a baby weighs at birth is more important for understanding their eyesight than how early they were born.
Methodology
Refraction was performed within the first week of life using cycloplegia, and data from 559 babies was analyzed for correlations between refractive status and physical parameters.
Limitations
Some babies were excluded due to missing data on parameters being investigated.
Participant Demographics
Newborns delivered at St. Stephens Hospital, including both term and preterm babies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website