Preterm babies, those who are born prior to 37 weeks, can have a myriad of health issues, depending on how many weeks premature they are at birth. (Note that a full-term birth is 39-to-40 weeks gestation.) According to The March of Dimes, in 2023, a little over ten percent of births in the United States were preterm. While not all babies born too early have health issues, and they vary depending on how many weeks early they were born, there are things to watch out for as they develop, and vision issues are one of those longer-term issues to pay attention to.

Common Vision Issues for Preterm Babies

The most common concern for premies is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), which happens when the blood vessels in the retina don’t have time to fully develop in the womb, causing abnormal blood vessels to grow once born. This disease can resolve itself as the baby continues to mature, but if not, laser treatment options are available to halt the abnormal growth.

Eye misalignment — called strabismus and commonly referred to as cross-eyed or wall-eyed — is another condition that can occur with premature babies because of the underdevelopment of eye muscles that keep the eyes aligned properly. Eyeglasses, surgery, and/or various eye exercises can correct it. Amblyopia, also called lazy eye, can develop as a result of strabismus, and can also be treated.

Various refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (eye shape) are all able to be corrected with eyeglasses.

Treatment

For parents of premature babies, regular check-ups with an eye-care provider specializing in premature infants are most important to carefully monitor their baby’s progress as it grows and matures. This should start at around one month after the baby is born. Early intervention is crucial to ensuring the best possible vision outcome for your child. Being educated about what to look for: squinting, crossed eyes or other misalignment, rubbing their eyes, excessive tearing, or having trouble tracking objects should all be reported to your pediatrician and eye-care specialist.

At All About Eyes, we provide eye care for children ages five and up. However, we also offer specialty eyewear—such as Dilli Dalli, Specs 4 Us, and Swissflex frames—suitable for infants and young children, including those with refractive issues or who were born prematurely.