Myopia in adults with retinopathy of prematurity

To evaluate myopia in adults with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Observational case series.

Axial length (AL), corneal radius (CR), and AL/CR ratio were measured in myopic adults with ROP using ultrasound A-scan biometry and keratometry, respectively.

Twenty-five eyes of 18 patients (mean age, 48 years) were studied. Mean gestational age at birth was 29 weeks. The average refraction was -5.23 diopters, AL 24.43 mm, CR 7.45 mm, and AL/CR ratio 3.28. On average, myopic adults with ROP had a shorter AL and decreased CR (increased corneal curvature), but a similar AL/CR ratio, relative to adults with the same degree of myopia who were born full-term. Myopic adults with ROP also had increased lens thickness (LT) and shallow anterior chamber depth (ACD).

Myopic adults with ROP had a shorter AL and smaller CR than expected for their degree of myopia. However, AL/CR ratios for these patients were similar to the values of adults who were born full-term. These results suggest that the refractive element most responsible for myopia in adults with ROP is higher corneal curvature (decreased CR), whereas the predominant factor in adult myopic individuals who were born full-term is increased AL. We believe that increased LT and shallow ACD make a lesser contribution to myopia in adults with ROP.