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Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Central macular thickness is correlated with gestational age at birth in prematurely born children
Hanna Akerblom1, Eva Larsson, Urban Eriksson
1Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Insights
Prematurely born children exhibit thicker central maculae compared to those born at term. Gestational age at birth is the primary risk factor for abnormal foveal development, irrespective of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Retinal Imaging
Background:
- Premature birth is associated with various visual impairments.
- Understanding retinal development in premature infants is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess retinal macular thickness in prematurely born children.
- To compare macular thickness with children born at term.
Main Methods:
- Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) 3 was used to examine 65 prematurely born children (ages 5-16) and 55 children born at term.
- Retinal macular thickness was measured in nine ETDRS areas, including foveal minimum and total macular volume.
Main Results:
- Prematurely born children showed significantly thicker central maculae (A1 and foveal minimum) than term-born children.
- Previous retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) correlated with thicker central maculae.
- Gestational age at birth was identified as the sole risk factor for increased central macular thickness.
Conclusions:
- Premature birth leads to thicker central maculae compared to term birth.
- The degree of prematurity is the most significant factor influencing abnormal foveal development, even in the absence of ROP.
Background/Aim:
Previous studies have revealed various subnormal visual functions in prematurely born children. The present study aimed to determine the retinal macular thickness in prematurely born children and compare with children born at term.
Methods:
The eyes of 65 prematurely born children aged 5-16 years were examined with Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) 3, and the results were compared with those of 55 children born at term. The retinal macular thickness in the nine EDTRS macular areas (A1-A9), the foveal minimum and the total macular volume were determined.
Results:
The central macular thickness (A1 and foveal minimum) was significantly thicker in the prematurely born children than in those born at term. There was no correlation between macular thickness and visual acuity or refraction. Children with previous retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) had significantly thicker central maculae than those without it. Prematurely born children without previous ROP had significantly thicker central maculae than the control group. Multiple regression analyses showed that gestational age at birth was the only risk factor for a thick central macula.
Conclusion:
Prematurely born children had thicker central maculae than those born at term. Regardless of ROP, the degree of prematurity was the most important risk factor for abnormal foveal development.