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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
CENTRAL MACULAR THICKNESS IN 6.5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN BORN EXTREMELY PRETERM IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH GESTATIONAL AGE
Anna E C Molnar1, Rebecka M Rosén2, Maria Nilsson2
1Departments of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Children born extremely preterm have significantly thicker maculas than term-born children. Key risk factors for increased macular thickness include lower gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity, and male gender.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatal Research
- Pediatric Eye Health
Background:
- Extremely preterm (EPT) birth before 27 weeks' gestation poses long-term health risks.
- Macular development is crucial for visual acuity.
- Understanding ocular changes in EPT survivors is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare macular thickness in 6.5-year-old EPT children versus term-born controls.
- To identify neonatal risk factors associated with macular thickness in EPT children.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study including 134 EPT children (mean GA 25 weeks) and 145 controls.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) used for macular thickness assessment at age 6.5 years.
- Analysis correlated OCT results with neonatal risk factors and sex.
Main Results:
- EPT children exhibited significantly increased central macula thickness (approx. 33-35 μm greater) compared to controls (P < 0.001).
- Gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity, and male gender were significant risk factors for thicker maculas in EPT children.
- Macular thickness decreased by 3.9 μm per week of gestation, adjusted for other factors.
Conclusions:
- Extremely preterm birth is a significant risk factor for increased central macular thickness.
- This finding persists even after accounting for retinopathy of prematurity and male gender.
- Macular thickness in EPT survivors warrants further investigation and monitoring.
Purpose:
To assess the macular thickness in 6.5-year-old children born extremely preterm (EPT) in comparison with children born at term and to investigate risk factors associated with the macular thickness in the preterm group.
Methods:
A population-based study of 6.5-year-old children born before the gestational age of 27 weeks and age-matched control subjects. Macular assessments with optical coherence tomography were performed, and the results were compared with neonatal risk factors and sex.
Results:
Adequate optical coherence tomography measurements were obtained from 134 children born EPT (mean gestational age of 25 weeks [range 23-26]) and 145 control subjects. The mean (range) of central macula thickness was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the EPT group (right eyes: 282 μm [238-356], left eyes: 283 μm [229-351]), compared with the control group (right eyes: 249 μm [208-293], left eyes: 248 μm [207-290]). A multiple linear mixed model analysis of the EPT group revealed gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity, and male gender as important risk factors for an increased macular thickness. The macular thickness decreased by 3.9 μm per gestational week, when adjusted for retinopathy of prematurity and sex.
Conclusion:
Extremely preterm birth constitutes a substantial risk factor for a thick central macula, even when adjusted for retinopathy of prematurity and male gender.
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