Utilising Digital Ocular Imaging for Paediatric Retinal Haemorrhages.
Irish Medical Journal
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Paediatric ocular imaging effectively identifies retinal haemorrhage patterns in infants and children, aiding diagnosis in conditions like retinopathy of prematurity and trauma. This technology improves documentation and clinical insights for better child eye care.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Paediatric Medicine
Background:
- Paediatric ocular imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosing various eye conditions in children.
- Retinal features in pathological and trauma-related conditions require precise documentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of paediatric ocular imaging in paediatric ophthalmology.
- To define retinal features in paediatric pathological and trauma-related conditions.
- To analyse cases in patients aged four weeks to 16 years.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series was conducted at a tertiary paediatric hospital.
- Ocular images were obtained using RetCam 3 or Topcon KR 800.
- Retinal haemorrhages were categorised, and statistical analysis was performed.
Main Results:
- Retinal haemorrhages were most common in infants, particularly those with retinopathy of prematurity and presumed trauma.
- ROP cases showed small, localised haemorrhages; trauma cases presented with larger, multilayer haemorrhages.
- Incidence of retinal haemorrhages was significantly higher in ROP and trauma cases.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric ocular imaging is vital for documenting retinal patterns and aiding differential diagnosis in children.
- Standardised imaging improves documentation and clinical insights, potentially reducing the need for repeated examinations.
- Integrating ocular imaging supports national guidelines and training, enhancing paediatric eye care accessibility and efficiency, with potential AI integration.
