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Photoreceptor Function in School-Aged Children is Affected by Preterm Birth

Hanna Åkerblom1, Sten Andreasson2, Eva Larsson1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Translational Vision Science & Technology
|February 13, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Retinal photoreceptor function is impaired in children born prematurely, even without retinopathy of prematurity. Electrophysiological studies reveal reduced a-wave amplitude, highlighting visual function deficits in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Premature birth can lead to visual impairments in school-aged children.
  • Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) has indicated retinal morphological changes in preterm infants, suggesting developmental disturbances.
  • Understanding these visual dysfunctions is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess retinal function using full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) in school-aged children born prematurely.
  • To compare ffERG results between prematurely born children and those born at term.
  • To correlate retinal function with visual acuity (VA), gestational age (GA), birth weight, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 35 children born before 32 weeks of GA (preterm group) and 42 children born at term (control group) aged 5-18 years were studied.
  • Full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) was performed on both eyes of all participants.
  • Best-corrected visual acuity (VA) and cycloplegic refraction were assessed.

Main Results:

  • The a-wave amplitude of the combined rod/cone response was significantly reduced in prematurely born children compared to controls.
  • A correlation was observed between reduced a-wave amplitude and a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and lower gestational age (GA) at birth.

Conclusions:

  • Photoreceptor function is demonstrably affected in children born prematurely.
  • These functional deficits may occur even in preterm children without a history of ROP.
  • Electrophysiological assessment of retinal function is valuable for understanding and managing visual dysfunctions in prematurely born children.
Abstract

Keywords:
fullfield ERGprematurityretinopathy of prematurity

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