Scanning electron microscopy of the ocular vasculature in retinopathy of prematurity

Clinicoanatomopathologic correlations in a case of the retinopathy of prematurity are reported. A premature infant delivered at 28 weeks of gestation (weight, 900 g) was hospitalized for a number of health problems, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and respiratory distress syndrome. Ophthalmic examination, at the age of 5 months, disclosed stage 1B retinopathy of prematurity. The patient died at the age of 161 days; both eyes were taken for scanning electron microscopy and histopathologic studies. Scanning electron microscopy findings included absence of retinal capillaries, anterior uveal neovascularization originating from the venous side, and a coincidental typical coloboma of the optic nerve and choriocapillaris. Histopathologic findings confirmed iris stromal neovascularization, showed retinal neovascularization with proliferation into the vitreous and avascular areas between the midperiphery and ora serrata.