164186 20251127172930.0 doi 10.3390/jcm14217742 sideral 146364 ART-2025-146364 eng Romero-Sanz, María Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-2797-5011 Oculomotor Control in Preterm Infants: Insights from Eye-Tracking Technology 2025 Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate the development of oculomotor behavior in children born preterm using a DIVE device (Device for an Integral Visual Examination) equipped with eye-tracking technology. Visual and visuo-cognitive measures obtained through eye-tracking technology provide quantitative and sensitive indicators of early neural development, as visual function is one of the earliest cerebral processes to develop postnatally. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Participants: The study included 428 children aged 0.5 to 14 years. Of these, 214 were born preterm (78 late preterm, born at 32–36 weeks’ gestation, and 136 early preterm, born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation) and 214 were full-term controls, matched by age and gender. Methods: All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological assessment. Oculomotor behavior was analyzed using a DIVE device, focusing on fixation duration, saccadic performance and fixation stability. Fixation stability was quantified by the bivariate contour ellipse area for short tasks (BCEA), which measures (in deg2) the area of the ellipse enclosing a specified percentage of fixation positions—smaller BCEA values indicate greater fixation stability. We performed a cluster analysis on these oculomotor metrics to identify distinct oculomotor control patterns. Results: Preterm children exhibited significantly poorer fixation stability than controls (mean BCEA 0.21 vs. 0.09 logdeg2, p = 0.004), alongside shorter fixation durations and longer saccadic reaction times. Early preterm children showed more unstable fixations compared to late-preterm and control groups (0.26 vs. 0.12 and 0.09 logdeg2, respectively, p = 0.001). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct OMC (oculomotor control) patterns: “good,” “impulsive,” and “poor.” Children classified in the “good OMC” cluster demonstrated stable fixations and appropriate saccadic reaction times. In contrast, those in the “impulsive OMC” and “poor OMC” clusters exhibited more unstable fixations and abnormal saccadic times, with the “poor” cluster being significantly associated with extreme prematurity, lower birth weights, and a higher incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Conclusions: Preterm birth is associated with measurable oculomotor deficits, most pronounced in early preterm infants, affecting their fixation and saccadic abilities. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to support the development of preterm children, particularly those with “poor” oculomotor control behavior. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/FIS/PI21-01977 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/RD21-0012-0012 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PTQ-010775 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/DI 7/2020 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Pérez-Roche, Teresa Vilella Cenis, Marina (orcid)0000-0002-5592-8442 Alejandre Escriche, Adrián Esteban-Ibañez, Eduardo Ortin Obon, Marta (orcid)0000-0003-3161-3793 Lacort-Beltrán, Marta Prieto Calvo, Esther Castillo Castejón, Olimpia Pueyo Royo, Victoria Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-1777-0349 1013 646 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Cirugía Área Oftalmología 1011 615 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú. Área Medic.Prevent.Salud Públ. 14, 21 (2025), 7742 [15 pp.] J. clin.med. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2077-0383 834574 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/164186/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2855003 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/164186/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:164186 articulos driver 2025-11-27-15:16:41 ARTICLE