Limited Independent Impact of Maternal Age on Early Childhood Ophthalmic Morbidity: A Nationwide…

Cohort studyAmerican journal of ophthalmology· May 2026

Limited Independent Impact of Maternal Age on Early Childhood Ophthalmic Morbidity: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Seongsu Kang, Sangseok Lee, Geun U Park … Yuri Seo

Pediatric OphthalmologyCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 4.2

In term infants, older maternal age was linked to slightly lower risk of childhood eye disorders

Limited Independent Impact of Maternal Age on Early Childhood Ophthalmic Morbidity: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Seongsu Kang … Yuri Seo

American journal of ophthalmology · May 2026 · Q1 in Ophthalmology

Purpose

To evaluate the independent effect of advanced maternal age (advanced maternal age) on pediatric ophthalmic morbidity, invasive interventions, and healthcare costs.

Methods

Nationwide, population-based cohort study PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,500,044 mother-infant pairs from a national health insurance database, followed from birth to 5 years of age.

Results

checking eye health, older mothers' babies had slightly lower risk

HR 1.33 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.45)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

However, this did not translate into reductions in invasive procedures or hospitalization rates.

In contrast, Preterm/LBW status was the primary driver of all ophthalmic risks (HRs 1.52-1.81) and procedures (incidence rate ratios 1.84-2.00) regardless of maternal age.

More results

Among term/NBW infants, higher retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis rates observed in the advanced maternal age group (adjusted HR 1.331; 95% CI, 1.211-1.450) were not accompanied by increased retinopathy of prematurity-related invasive treatment.

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Conclusion · 1 of 3

Advanced maternal age is not an independent biological determinant of early pediatric ophthalmic disease or treatment-requiring morbidity.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

In the absence of prematurity or low birth weight, children born to older mothers are not at increased risk of early ophthalmic disorders.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

These findings provide evidence-based reassurance for older mothers and support counseling that emphasizes perinatal health status rather than maternal age itself.

Limited Independent Impact of Maternal Age on Early Childhood Ophthalmic Morbidity: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Limited Independent Impact of Maternal Age on Early Childhood Ophthalmic Morbidity: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

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