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IOP higher among premature infants than full-term infants, study shows
J AAPOS. 2011;15(4):367-369.
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Premature newborns had slightly greater IOP measurements than full-term newborns due to increased central corneal thickness, a study found.
"Compared with full-term newborns, premature newborns have greater CCT, which decreases progressively," the study authors said. "A progressive reduction in IOP has also been detected. However, no data are available on the effect of CCT on IOP measurements in newborns."
The prospective study included 33 premature infants with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks and mean birth weight of 1,474 grams. A control group comprised 33 full-term infants with a mean gestational age of 39 weeks and mean birth weight of 2,763 grams.
Mean age after birth at measurement was 3 weeks in the premature group and 1 week in the full-term group.
Study results showed that mean IOP was 18.9 mm Hg among premature infants and 17 mm Hg among full-term infants. The between-group difference, adjusted for age and gender, was statistically significant (P = .018).
Mean CCT was 599 µm in the premature group and 576 µm in the full-term group. The difference, adjusted for age, was statistically significant (P < .001).
Data showed that IOP increased in step with rising CCT; CCT declined with increasing birth weight, the authors said.