Association between Gestational Age, Birth Weight, Parental Age at Childbirth, Mode of Delivery, and Infantile Esotropia

Significance: This study investigated the potential perinatal risk factors associated with infantile esotropia in a Chinese population, including advanced parental age at childbirth and mode of delivery. The findings may be significant in developing better intervention strategies for infantile esotropia.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the associations between gestational age, birth weight, parental age at childbirth, mode of delivery, family history of strabismus, and infantile esotropia in the Chinese population.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with infantile esotropia and 117 control subjects were enrolled between March 2018 and March 2021. Detailed questionnaires were administered to parents to collect relevant information. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify possible risk factors of infantile esotropia. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.

Results: Infantile esotropia was associated with low birth weight (<2500 g; OR, 4.235; 95% CI, 1.460 to 12.287; P = .008) and emergency cesarean delivery (OR, 2.230; 95% CI, 1.127 to 4.413; P = .02).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that low birth weight and emergency cesarean deliveries are risk factors for infantile esotropia, highlighting a need for collaborative care between obstetricians, pediatricians, and vision care providers.