Strabismus and binocular vision disorders in premature infants with retinopathy treated with cryotherapy

PURPOSE: To assess frequency of refraction errors, abnormal eye position and binocular vision disorders in children with retinopathy treated with cryotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects of the study were 67 children, aged 2-7, treated with cryotherapy for active phase retinopathy. RESULTS: The largest group consisted of children with good visual acuity (48%). Refraction error was found in 94% of the examined eyes. Hypermetropia was more common (54%) than myopia (40%). Majority of the examined children had squint, and esotropia was much more frequent (52%). The deviation in 37% of children was over 10 degrees. In the group with birth weight under 1000 grams as well as in those with birth weight 1000-1500 grams the squint occurred in 48%, and in children weighing over 1500 grams in 4.0%. Only 54% of the studied children had normal binocular vision. CONCLUSIONS: Retinopathy of prematurity is a risk factor for development of refraction errors, strabismus and amblyopia. In infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated with cryotherapy it is necessary to have vision check-ups during their early childhood years.