Researchers studied 318 eyes of premature babies to understand how their vision develops. They found that babies who gained more weight developed better eye structures faster, even when accounting for their age. This suggests that good nutrition might help protect premature babies from serious eye problems. The study looked at a specific part of the eye that’s important for clear vision and found it developed better in heavier babies. This could help doctors make better decisions about treating eye problems in premature infants.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How weight gain affects eye development in premature babies, specifically looking at when a key part of the eye for vision develops
  • Who participated: 318 eyes from premature babies in Ghana who needed eye screening for potential vision problems
  • Key finding: For every 200 grams (about 7 ounces) a baby gained, their chances of developing proper eye structure increased by 23%
  • What it means for you: If you have a premature baby, focusing on healthy weight gain through proper nutrition may help protect their vision development

The Research Details

Researchers followed premature babies from November 2024 to March 2025 using a telemedicine program in Ghana. They took detailed pictures of the babies’ eyes and tracked their weight and age over time. The babies were all born early enough to need special eye screening to check for vision problems. The researchers used advanced cameras to look inside the babies’ eyes and see when important structures developed. They then compared this timing to how much the babies weighed and how old they were.

This approach allowed researchers to see the relationship between nutrition (reflected in weight gain) and eye development in real-time, rather than just guessing based on age alone.

The study used objective measurements (actual photos of eyes and precise weight measurements) and followed babies over several months, making the results more reliable than single-time observations.

What the Results Show

The study found that heavier babies developed a key eye structure called the foveal light reflex earlier than lighter babies. This structure is important for sharp, clear vision. On average, babies with less severe eye problems developed this structure at 35 weeks of age when they weighed about 1,723 grams (3.8 pounds). Babies with more serious eye problems developed it at about the same age but weighed less (1,565 grams or 3.4 pounds). The researchers could predict with 85% accuracy whether a baby would develop this eye structure based on both their age and weight together.

Each additional week of age increased the chances of proper eye development by 45%, but weight gain had an independent effect beyond just getting older. This suggests that nutrition plays a unique role in eye development that’s separate from natural maturation.

Previous studies focused mainly on age as the key factor in eye development. This research is among the first to show that weight gain and nutrition may be just as important for protecting vision in premature babies.

The study was conducted in one region (Ghana) and may not apply to all populations. The researchers also couldn’t control what nutrition the babies received - they only observed natural differences in weight gain.

The Bottom Line

Parents and doctors should prioritize healthy weight gain in premature babies, as this may help protect their vision development. However, this should always be done under medical supervision since premature babies have complex nutritional needs.

Parents of premature babies, neonatal care teams, and anyone involved in caring for infants born before 37 weeks should pay attention to these findings. This may be less relevant for full-term babies.

The benefits of good nutrition on eye development appear to happen gradually over weeks to months, with key improvements typically seen by 35-36 weeks of age.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your premature baby’s weekly weight gain and note any changes in their eye examination results during medical visits
  • Work with your healthcare team to ensure your premature baby is receiving optimal nutrition for healthy weight gain, whether through breast milk, formula, or medical nutrition support
  • Log weekly weight measurements and eye screening results to discuss patterns with your pediatrician and eye specialist over the first few months

This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician and eye care specialists about your premature baby’s specific nutritional and vision care needs.