Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
Macular morphology in former preterm and full-term infants aged 4 to 10 years
Achim Fieß1,2, Johannes Janz3, Alexander K Schuster4
1Department of Ophthalmology, Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Klinik Wiesbaden, Ludwig-Erhard-Straße 100, 65199, Wiesbaden, Germany. Achim.Fiess@gmail.com.
Insights
Former preterm infants show altered macular retinal layer thickness, with low gestational age and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) impacting foveal thickness. These changes may affect visual function in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Preterm birth is associated with neurodevelopmental challenges, including visual impairments.
- Understanding retinal and choroidal development in former preterm infants is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze macular retinal and choroidal layer thickness in former preterm and full-term infants.
- To assess perinatal factors influencing these measurements.
- To correlate retinal morphology with visual function.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, cross-sectional study of 397 infants (former preterm and full-term) aged 4-10 years.
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography used for macular retinal and choroidal layer measurements.
- Multivariable linear regression analyzed associations with gestational age and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Main Results:
- Former preterm infants (especially GA ≤ 28 weeks) exhibited thicker total foveal retinal thickness compared to full-term infants, irrespective of ROP.
- ROP occurrence was linked to increased foveal thickness.
- Thinner ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) and photoreceptor layers were observed in infants with GA ≤ 28 weeks, associated with lower gestational age but not ROP.
- Total foveal retinal thickness correlated with reduced visual function.
Conclusions:
- Low gestational age and ROP are key determinants of foveal thickening in former preterm infants.
- Thinned GCL+IPL is associated with lower gestational age, indicating altered retinal maturation.
- These retinal morphology parameters serve as prognostic indicators for visual function in children born preterm.
Objective:
To analyse macular retinal and choroidal layer thickness in former preterm and full-term infants and to assess associated perinatal influence factors and functional correlation.
Methods:
This prospective controlled, cross-sectional, hospital-based study in a tertiary center of maximum care examined former preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks and full-term neonates currently aged 4 to 10 years. We investigated data from 397 infants, analysing total foveal retinal thickness and six distinct macular retinal layer and choroidal layer measurements via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to investigate associations of layer thickness with GA and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Results:
Total retinal thickness in the fovea was thicker in former preterm infants with GA ≤ 28 weeks and in those with GA between 29-32 weeks compared to full-term infants independently of ROP. Occurrence of ROP was also associated with increased foveal thickness. Ganglion cell layer together with inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) was thinner in infants with GA ≤ 28 weeks than in full-term infants at 1000 and 2000μm distance from the fovea, but no association with ROP was present. Similar results were found for the photoreceptor layer. Total foveal retinal thickness was associated with low visual function.
Conclusion:
This study identified low gestational age and ROP occurrence as main determinants for foveal thickening. Furthermore, thinned GCL+IPL measurements were associated with lower gestational age. This study highlights the prognostic value of these maturity parameters influencing retinal morphology, which may affect visual function.
