Premature Birth
Pre-term babies are more likely to suffer from ophthalmic conditions, including lazy eye, than babies delivered at full term. A lazy eye may develop without a clear cause, making it challenging for doctors to determine its pathogenesis. According to studies, a lazy eye may be present in 2% to 5% of children in their early life, most of whom were born prematurely.
In some cases, the craniofacial abnormalities typical of pre-term newborns increase the likelihood of developing a lazy eye. In addition, babies with chromosomal disorders may also exhibit signs of lazy eye. Other risk factors include retinopathy of prematurity, extended hospital stay, intraventricular hemorrhage, and congenital heart disease.
Amblyopia develops in pre-term babies as the final stages of eye development happen during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, for children born prematurely, it is recommended that parents bring their children for routine assessments during the first few years of life. This will ensure appropriate and timely interventions to correct vision as early as possible. Besides the cosmetic side effect of misaligned eyes, the untreated, lazy eye may lead to a child’s slow psychosocial development.
