A Retrospective Study On The Outcome Of Refractive Error In Prematurely Born Adults.

Purpose: This study was performed to determine if premature birth produces an explicit
refractive error in adults. The study has correlated this in retrospection. Methods: Patients between the ages of twenty and sixty-five were asked if they were born at least three weeks premature. If this was proven, a comprehensive eye exam was performed on the patient to assess their refractive error. The twenty-four (forty-eight eyes) premature patients' spherical equivalent was then compared to the one hundred forty-six (two hundred
'. ninety-two eyes) patients' spherical equivalent that were full term. Hypothesis: Our study proved that adults who were born premature had a spherical equivalence of myopia initiated by their prematurity. Results: Of the twenty-four patients (forty-eight eyes) who were proven to be premature, thirty-one eyes were myopic (greater than or equal to -0.75 diopters (D», eight eyes were hyperopic (greater than or equal to +l.OOD), and nine eyes were emmetropic (between -0.50 and +0.75D). Of the one hundred forty-six patients (two hundred ninety-two eyes) who were full term, one hundred twenty-three eyes were myopic (greater than or equal to -0.75D), ninety-two eyes were hyperopic (greater than or equal to +l.OOD), and seventy-seven eyes were emmetropic (between -0.50 and +0.75D).
Conclusion: Our results found that adults, who were born premature by at least three weeks, were more likely to have a myopic adult refractive error than patients who were born full term.