Long-term observation of infants with macular hemorrhage in the neonatal period.

Ten infants with macular hemorrhage in the neonatal period were tested to assess visual acuity, stereopsis, and ocular position. Contrast sensitivity was examined in three of them. The duration of hemorrhages was 1 month in four patients, 1.5 months in one patient, 2 months in two patients, 3 months in one patient, 4 months in one patient (corrected gestational 3 months), and 5 months in one patient (corrected gestational 2.5 months). None of the patients developed deprivation amblyopia or visual loss due to abnormality of macula. The results suggest that there is essentially no risk of visual deprivation for 3 months after birth. If there is any poor visual acuity, abnormal ocular position, abnormal eye movement, or poor stereopsis in the infant with neonatal macular hemorrhage, we have to elucidate the cause of the symptoms.