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Early ametropia and rod photoreceptor function in retinopathy of prematurity

Anne Moskowitz1, Ronald Hansen, Anne Fulton

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Optometry and Vision Science : Official Publication of the American Academy of Optometry
|April 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Retinal dysfunction is linked to early vision problems like myopia in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). These retinal deficits may cause ametropia, affecting eye growth and development.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Retinal Physiology

Background:

  • Children born prematurely, especially with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), often develop early ametropia, including myopia.
  • The retina plays a crucial role in regulating eye growth and refractive development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between retinal function deficits and early ametropia in subjects with a history of retinopathy of prematurity.
  • To test the hypothesis that impaired retinal function contributes to refractive errors in ROP patients.

Main Methods:

  • Scotopic electroretinogram (ERG) responses were analyzed in 40 ROP subjects (8 weeks to 18 years).
  • ROP was classified (treated, untreated, none), and refractive development was monitored and compared to age-matched norms.
  • Rod photoresponse parameters and postreceptoral responses were calculated and compared with normal values.

Main Results:

  • Twelve ROP subjects exhibited early ametropia (10 myopia, 2 hyperopia).
  • Most ROP subjects showed below-normal receptoral and postreceptoral response parameters.
  • Significantly lower rod photoreceptor sensitivity was observed in ametropic ROP subjects compared to emmetropic ones; deficits preceded ametropia in some infants.

Conclusions:

  • Retinal dysfunction is significantly associated with the development of early ametropia in ROP subjects.
  • Mechanisms underlying ametropia in ROP may involve impaired rod function and rod-mediated postreceptoral activity.
Abstract

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