Causes of poor eye contact in infants: a population-based study
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Causes of poor eye contact in infants : a population-based study. / Levinsen, Mette; Børresen, Malene Landbo; Roos, Laura; Grønskov, Karen; Kessel, Line.
In: BMC Ophthalmology, Vol. 21, 388, 2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Causes of poor eye contact in infants
T2 - a population-based study
AU - Levinsen, Mette
AU - Børresen, Malene Landbo
AU - Roos, Laura
AU - Grønskov, Karen
AU - Kessel, Line
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: Establishing eye contact between infants and parents is important for early parent-child bonding and lack of eye contact may be a sign of severe underlying disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the causes of poor or lacking eye contact in infants. Methods: Cross-sectional study reviewing all referrals of infants ≤1 year of age from January 1rst, 2016 to December 31rst, 2018. Medical information was retrieved from patient files covering pregnancy, birth, diagnostic work-up and ocular parameters such as refraction, visual acuity and structural findings. Results: We identified 99 infants with poor or lacking eye contact. The relative frequency of causes was neurologic disease 36.4% (36/99), delayed visual maturation 24.2% (24/99), ocular disease 21.2% (21/99) and idiopathic infantile nystagmus 4.0% (4/99). Fourteen infants had a visual function within age-related norms at first examination despite poor eye contact at the time of referral. Of the infants with available data, 18/27 (33.3%) with neurologic cause, 15/23 (65.2%) with delayed visual maturation and 9/21 (42.9%) with ocular cause had visual acuity within the age-related norm at latest follow-up (0-41 months). In 23 infants, a genetic cause was found. Conclusion: Poor eye contact in infants may be a sign of severe underlying disease, such as neurological or ocular disease. Close collaboration between pediatric ophthalmologists and neuro-pediatricians are warranted in the management of these infants.
AB - Background: Establishing eye contact between infants and parents is important for early parent-child bonding and lack of eye contact may be a sign of severe underlying disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the causes of poor or lacking eye contact in infants. Methods: Cross-sectional study reviewing all referrals of infants ≤1 year of age from January 1rst, 2016 to December 31rst, 2018. Medical information was retrieved from patient files covering pregnancy, birth, diagnostic work-up and ocular parameters such as refraction, visual acuity and structural findings. Results: We identified 99 infants with poor or lacking eye contact. The relative frequency of causes was neurologic disease 36.4% (36/99), delayed visual maturation 24.2% (24/99), ocular disease 21.2% (21/99) and idiopathic infantile nystagmus 4.0% (4/99). Fourteen infants had a visual function within age-related norms at first examination despite poor eye contact at the time of referral. Of the infants with available data, 18/27 (33.3%) with neurologic cause, 15/23 (65.2%) with delayed visual maturation and 9/21 (42.9%) with ocular cause had visual acuity within the age-related norm at latest follow-up (0-41 months). In 23 infants, a genetic cause was found. Conclusion: Poor eye contact in infants may be a sign of severe underlying disease, such as neurological or ocular disease. Close collaboration between pediatric ophthalmologists and neuro-pediatricians are warranted in the management of these infants.
KW - Delayed visual maturation
KW - Infant
KW - Infants
KW - Nystagmus
KW - Poor eye contact
KW - Vision
U2 - 10.1186/s12886-021-02151-7
DO - 10.1186/s12886-021-02151-7
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34743689
AN - SCOPUS:85118744168
VL - 21
JO - BMC Ophthalmology
JF - BMC Ophthalmology
SN - 1471-2415
M1 - 388
ER -
ID: 285312764