Oculomotor control in a group of very low birth weight (VLBW) children.

VLBW infants are at risk of lesions including intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia. Those with normal IQ still present with reading difficulties. Oculomotor performance was assessed on 14 VLBWs (IQ > 85) and 15 full-term age-matched controls. Anti-saccade errors were significantly higher for the VLBWs (78%) compared to full terms (62%) (P = 0.02). Smooth pursuit latency was longer for the VLBWs compared to the full terms. Greater anti-saccade errors may be indicative of a lesion affecting the frontal cortex or developmental delay. Oculomotor deficits in VLBW children may be associated with the higher incidence of reading difficulties that have been reported.