Intraocular Pressure of Premature Newborns – A ۲ Year Follow up

Background: The intraocular pressure (IOP) ranges of premature newborns are not the same as those in full-term newborns and adult population. There are no unified standards for IOP in infants, much less premature newborn. Research on the topic is very conflicting and needs to be expanded upon. To assess IOP in premature and full-term newborns and factors influencing it. Methods: Using a hand-held rebound tonometer, IOP was measured in ۵۴۸ eyes of ۲۷۴ preterm infants (gestational age ranging from ۲۶ to ۳۲ weeks) shortly after birth and at weekly intervals for one month. Results: The mean gestational age for premature newborns was ۳۰.۲۳±۲.۳۴ weeks (۲۵-۳۵ weeks), for full-term newborn it was ۳۹.۱۹±۰.۹۱ weeks (۳۷-۴۱ weeks). Mean IOP values in preterm infants were ۲۱.۹۵±۴.۳۶ mmHg (ranging from ۱۱.۱ to ۳۲ mmHg), while for full-term were ۱۳.۵±۲.۹ (from ۱۰.۵ to ۲۵.۱ mmHg). At the end of the first month the mean IOP decreased to ۱۷.۶۶ ± ۲.۲۱ mm Hg (P < .۰۰۱) for preterm newborns, while not changing in a statistically significant way for the full-term ones (P>۰.۵). Central corneal thickness was found to be among the major factors associated with increased IOP (P<.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Measured values of IOP are well outside the normal range for newborns. There is a tendency for decreasing IOP observed during the first month screening which decreases the value of the initial findings. The exact causes of the decrease of IOP are not completely clear up to this point. Use of eyelid speculum needs to be avoided to prevent artificial increase of IOP.

Keywords:

Central corneal thickness , Infants , Intraocular pressure , Preterm