Prevalence of strabismus, nystagmus and risk factors in children and adolescents born preterm with and without retinopathy of prematurity
Reviewed by Jonathan Chan

This is a retrospective study of 949 children (11.21 +/-3.92 years, 495 females). They were divided into 6 groups based on gestational age (GA) with/without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and with/without treatment of ROP, alongside full-term babies as a control group. Strabismus was found in 6% in group 1, 10% group 2, 12% in group 3, 23% in group 4, 20% in group 5 and 68% in group 6. Nystagmus was observed in 0.8%, 0.4%, 1.8%, 2.6%, 5% and 47% in the respective groups. Strabismus was associated with earlier GA, astigmatism and hypermetropia. Esotropia was associated with weeks of prematurity, anisometropia and hypermetropia. Nystagmus was associated with ROP, anisometropia and myopia. The authors concluded that strabismus is associated with prematurity and refractive error, and nystagmus is more prevalent in children with ROP and refractive error.

Prevalence of strabismus, nystagmus and risk factors in children and adolescents born preterm with and without retinopathy of prematurity: results from the Gutenberg Prematurity Study Young.
Fieß A, Gißler S, Hartmann A, et al.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
2026;110:370–8.