The relationship between ophthalmic deficits and functional ability in low birth weight children

Aim: To review the current literature on long-term ophthalmic deficits and behavioural and/or cognitive outcomes occurring in low birth weight (LBW) children and to determine whether there is any link between the ophthalmic deficits and functional out­come.

Methods: A literature search was performed focusing mainly on publications from the past 10 years.

Results: LBW children are at an increased risk of a large number of ophthalmic deficits, including reduced visual functions (acuity, visual field, colour vision, stereo-acuity and contrast sensitivity), increased prevalence of strabismus and all types of refractive error. These deficits are not restricted to the smallest children; they can occur with increased frequency in nil LBW children. As a group LBNV children have increased risk of cognitive and behavioural deficits, which can affect them through­out their education. There is evidence of an associa­tion between ophthalmic outcome and many aspects of functional ability (e.g. IQ, reading ability). Further research is required to discover whether there is a common aetiology.