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Published on: July 24, 2020
Retinal choroidal and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in former preterm and full-term infants aged 4 to 8 years
Damla Erginturk Acar1, Ugur Acar2, Zuhal Ozen Tunay1
1ROP Diagnosis Treatment and Education Center, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Diode laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants may increase macular thickness and decrease retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. These findings highlight potential long-term ocular changes in treated ROP patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Retinal Imaging
Background:
- Preterm birth is a significant risk factor for various ocular conditions.
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious condition that can affect preterm infants.
- Understanding the long-term ocular structural changes in children with a history of ROP is crucial for monitoring and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare central foveal retinal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and choroidal thickness (CT) between former preterm and full-term infants.
- To investigate the potential impact of ROP treatment on these ocular parameters.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 121 healthy children aged 4-8 years was divided into four groups: full-term, preterm without ROP history, preterm with regressed ROP, and preterm treated for ROP.
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to measure foveal thickness, peripapillary RNFL thickness (global and quadrants), and submacular CT.
Main Results:
- Children treated for ROP (group 4) showed statistically higher mean central foveal retinal thickness.
- Group 4 also exhibited statistically lower mean RNFL thickness in global, nasal, superior, and inferior quadrants.
- No significant differences in submacular choroidal thickness were observed among the groups.
Conclusions:
- Transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation for ROP appears to be associated with increased macular thickness.
- This treatment modality may also lead to a reduction in peripapillary RNFL thickness.
- These findings suggest that ROP treatment can induce lasting structural alterations in the retina.
Purpose:
To compare the retinal thickness at the fovea center, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and choroidal thickness (CT) in former preterm and full-term infants.
Methods:
A total of 121 healthy children aged 4-8 years were divided 4 groups: group 1; children born on time, group 2; preterm children without a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), group 3; preterm children with a history of spontaneously regressed ROP and group 4; preterm children who underwent diode laser photocoagulation for ROP. The retinal thickness at the fovea, peripapillary RNFL thickness at global, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants and submacular CT at 7 different points were measured by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
Results:
The mean retinal thickness at the fovea center was statistically higher, whereas the mean RNFL thickness values in global, nasal, superior and inferior quadrants were statistically lower in group 4. No difference was found in the mean submacular CT value of any point between the groups.
Conclusion:
Transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation treatment for ROP seems to cause an increase in macular thickness and a decrease in RNFL thickness.
