Refractive error at birth and its relation to gestational age.

Purpose: The refractive status of premature infants is not well studied. This study was done to find the norms of refractive error in newborns at different gestational ages.

Methods: One thousand two hundred three (1203) eyes were examined for refractive error by streak retinoscopy within the first week of life between June 2001 and September 2002.