Eye-hand co-ordination skills in very preterm infants <29 weeks gestation at 3 years:: effects of preterm birth and retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction: Preterm infants are known to have tow gross motor and fine motor skills. We questioned whether poor eye-hand coordination skills are associated with moderate to severe stages of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Aims: The aim of this study was to examine development, with specific reference to eye-hand coordination skills, among preterm infants < 29 weeks gestation with different stages of ROP at 3 years of age. Methods and materials: Fifteen preterm infants (< 29 weeks gestation) who developed Stage 3 ROP were matched for gestation, birthweight and gender with infants who developed Stage 2 and Stage 1/no ROP. Developmental (Griffiths Mental Development Scales and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales) and ophthalmic assessments in the 3 matched groups of 15 were performed at 3 years of age. Results: 1) Whilst the eye-hand coordination scores and Peabody fine motor scores were lower in the Stage 3 ROP group, they were not significantly lower than the other ROP groups. 2) Locomotor, Peabody gross motor skills and hearing and speech were significantly tower in the infants with Stage 3 ROR The other developmental domains were not significantly different to the severe ROP group. 3) All 3 groups (of preterm infants) had lower eye-hand coordination and Peabody fine motor scores compared to test norms. 4) There were 8 of 15 infants with Stage 3 ROP who developed moderate visual problems by 3 years of age. Conclusion: In preterm infants, Low eye-hand coordination/fine motor scores are likely to be due to their extreme prematurity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.