Visual Function in the Preterm and Fullterm Newborn Infant

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Abstract
Visual function in the preterm newborn [human] was studied by the visual orientation (tracking) technique of the Brazelton neurobehavioral assessment, and by the pattern preference and fixation techniques of Frantz. Both these methods demonstrated the presence of discriminative visual function by 31-32 wk gestation, which by 34 wk reaches a maturity comparable to the pattern found in full-term infants. Sequential studies at weekly intervals of preterm infants, ranging in gestation from 28-32 wk, have shown a similar pattern of development of visual function to that of the newborn infant of equivalent postconceptional age. Comparative studies of visual orientation and pattern preference in the same infants have not shown a close correlation. The assessment of visual function in the preterm newborn infant is a valuable milestone. Aberrations may reflect a deficit in visual function itself, a more broad-based deficit in neurological function or possibly a response to a generalized illness.