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Alteration of Tear Metabolomics Profiling in Infants With Retinopathy of Prematurity

Zixin Fan1, Shuo Yang1, Xiaofeng Lu1

  • 1Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Medical Center, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|June 20, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Tear metabolomic profiling identified specific biomarkers for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants. These findings may lead to noninvasive screening tools for ROP diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neonatology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing severe visual outcomes.
  • Current diagnostic methods may be invasive or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the metabolomic profile of tears in infants with ROP.
  • To identify noninvasive tear biomarkers for ROP detection.
  • To correlate tear metabolite levels with ROP severity.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 47 premature infants (94 eyes).
  • Tear samples collected using Schirmer strips after topical anesthesia.
  • Untargeted metabolomic analysis performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).

Main Results:

  • 145 metabolites quantified; several were significantly upregulated or downregulated in ROP infants.
  • Specific metabolites like 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, caffeine, and trehalose were upregulated.
  • Uric acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were downregulated; 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha showed high diagnostic performance (AUC=0.893).

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulated tear metabolites correlate with ROP severity.
  • These metabolites show potential as noninvasive biomarkers for ROP.
  • Tear metabolomics may serve as a complementary screening tool for ROP.
Abstract

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