To evaluate the refractive status, anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus in 3-year-old premature children.

A total of 161 eyes from 82 premature infants were retrospectively reviewed and divided into three groups according to the presence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and treatment; Group 1 (68 eyes): without ROP, Group 2-1 (32 eyes): spontaneously regressed ROP, and Group 2-2 (61 eyes): regressed ROP with treatment. The incidences and clinical features of refractive errors, anisometropia, amblyopia and strabismus at the age of three years were compared among the three groups.

The incidences of myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia and the severity of myopia increased according to the presence of ROP and treatment ( p = 0.03, 0.02, 0.001, and 0.04, respectively). There were no significant differences in the incidences of hyperopia among the three groups; however, the severity of hyperopia in Group 2-2 was higher than those in the other two groups ( p = 0.01). Patients in Group 1 had better best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared with those of the other two groups ( p < 0.001). However, no significant differences in the incidences of strabismus or amblyopia among the three groups ( p = 0.80 and 0.85, respectively) were found, and the ratio of esotropia : exotropia was 1:1.3.

Regular ocular examination should be required in children who were born prematurely in order to detect and treat ophthalmologic problems such as refractive errors, amblyopia and strabismus.