Changes in ocular axial dimensions and refraction were followed longitudinally, using ultrasonography and retinoscopy, during the first year of life (mean ages 4-53 weeks) of a group of 20 full-term infants (10 male, 10 female). Using a mixed-model regression analysis, axial length changes as a function of time were found to be best described by a quadratic expression (AL=17.190+0.128x-0.0013x(2), where AL is the axial length in mm and x is the age in weeks), while anterior chamber depth changed linearly (ACD=2.619+0.018x, where ACD is the anterior chamber depth in mm): lens thickness was essentially constant. Spherical equivalent refraction through most of the first year showed a steady reduction in hypermetropia (SER=2.982-0.032x, where SER is the spherical equivalent refraction in dioptres): astigmatism also tended to diminish. Mean hyperopic refractive errors through the year were negatively correlated with corresponding axial lengths (SER=12.583-0.541AL), but some individual subjects showed marked departures from this pattern. These results are discussed in relation to concepts of emmetropization.

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Background/aims-In the management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), several studies have demonstrated laser photocoagulation to be as eVective as cryotherapy in reducing the incidence of unfavourable structural outcome. However, few data are available on the functional outcome. The 3 year visual acuity outcome of infants treated with laser or cryotherapy in a neonatal unit is presented. Methods-The case notes of 34 infants (64 eyes) treated with cryotherapy, between 1989 and 1992, and 32 infants (59 eyes) treated with laser, between 1992 and 1995, were reviewed. Results-In the cryotherapy group 69% of eyes had a favourable structural outcome. Of these structurally successful eyes 62.5%, 35.0%, and 33.3% of eyes had visual acuities within normal limits at the 12 month, 24 month, and 36 month corrected age milestones respectively. In the laser group 93% of eyes had a favourable structural outcome. Of these structurally successful eyes 96.4%, 66.7%, and 59.5% of eyes had visual acuities within normal limits at the 12 month, 24 month, and 36 month corrected age milestones respectively. Conclusion-In the management of ROP, when laser photocoagulation induces a structurally successful result, the potential for normal visual acuity development at 3 years is high. Whether the poorer functional outcome of the eyes treated with cryotherapy is an artefact of the historical nature of the study or as a result of an adverse eVect of the destructive transcleral application is unknown.