TOPLINE:

In children born very preterm, suboptimal visual acuity (VA) at 5.5 years of age was associated with lower cognitive and motor performance, along with increased behavioural difficulties.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of a French population-based cohort study to evaluate the association between suboptimal VA and neurodevelopment in children born very preterm.
• They included 1787 children born between 24 + 1 and 31 + 6 weeks of gestation and followed them at 5.5 years of age.
• Binocular VA was assessed using a standardised recognition vision chart and categorised as 5-6.3/10, 8/10, and 10/10 (reference) groups.
• Cognitive performance was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV), motor performance was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2), and behavioural difficulties were assessed using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

TAKEAWAY:

• During follow-up, 62% of children had suboptimal VA, with 38% having VA between 5/10 and 6.3/10.
• After adjustment, cognitive performance decreased with worsening VA. Children in the 8/10 and 5-6.3/10 suboptimal VA groups scored approximately 3 and 5 points lower on the WPPSI-IV Full Scale IQ, respectively, than those in the reference group (P < .001 for both).
• Motor performance declined with MABC-2 total scores decreasing by 0.66 and 1.06 points in the 8/10 and 5-6.3/10 suboptimal VA groups, respectively, compared with the reference group (P < .001 for both).
• Behavioural difficulties increased modestly, with total SDQ scores rising by 0.60 points in the 5-6.3/10 suboptimal VA group (P = .02) in contrast to those in the reference group. No significant differences in total SDQ scores were observed for the 8/10 suboptimal VA group. 

IN PRACTICE:

"Early identification of suboptimal VA could enable targeted interventions to support visual and cognitive development," the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Yaman Hendi, Adolphe de Rothschild Ophthalmological Foundation, Paris, France. It was published online on January 06, 2026, in Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal & Neonatal Edition.

LIMITATIONS:

Many children were lost to follow-up. Despite adjustment, residual confounding between the groups may have persisted. VA was assessed by paediatricians rather than ophthalmologists.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was funded by the Fondation de France, French Institute for Public Health Research/Institute of Public Health, and National Research Agency through the French Equipex Programme of Investments in the Future. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.