[Visual future of prematures].

The retinal periphery of 60 premature children now between 5 and 8 years of age and with a weight at birth equal or less than 1,500 g has been investigated. In 20% of these children, pigmentary modifications were noted which were often associated with chorioretinal atrophy. Polymorphic vascular abnormalities were seen in 14% of the cases, i.e. sinuous vessels of irregular caliber or neovascularization. Abnormalities of the vitreous body were also noted in 12% of the patients with glial bags on the periphery and sometimes potentially dangerous tractions folds (4%). All these abnormalities could cause complications such as retinal tear, retinoschisis or retinal detachment. Even if these signs are discrete, they can later on be the source of complications. Refraction studies revealed 30% of myopic children. The most important group had myopias equal or higher than 8 d. The characteristics of the myopia of premature children are its constancy (all premature children are myopic at birth); its importance (it depends on birth weight and on the severity of the retinopathy), and its evolution (the myopia of premature children does not evolve or evolves very slightly).