[Analysis of choroidal thickness in AP-ROP, threshold disease and ROP without laser photocoagulation]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinopathy of Prematurity
• Optical Coherence Tomography

Background:

• Enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) offer high-resolution choroidal imaging.
• Limited data exists on choroidal thickness (CT) changes post-laser photocoagulation (LC) in aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) and threshold disease (TD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and their impact on visual acuity (VA) after LC in APROP and TD.
• To compare SFCT, VA, and other ocular parameters between treated and untreated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) groups and a control group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 75 eyes across four groups: APROP with LC, TD with LC, ROP without LC, and full-term infants.
• Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) measured using SD-EDI-OCT in infants aged 4-7 years.
• Multivariate linear regression analysis evaluated risk factors (gestational age, birth weight, spherical equivalent, axial length, SFCT) influencing visual acuity.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in SFCT and axial length were observed between most groups, except for comparisons between TD without LC and control groups.
• Visual acuity differed significantly across all groups.
• Subfoveal choroidal thickness, gestational age, and axial length were identified as independent risk factors influencing visual acuity in different groups.

Conclusions:

• The study identifies SFCT, GA, and AXL as significant predictors of visual acuity in infants with and without ROP.
• The findings highlight the complex relationship between ocular parameters and visual outcomes in ROP, suggesting additional unmeasured factors influence visual acuity.