Abstract
Purpose:
To study the characteristic of retinal and choroideal circulation in the retina of former premature with regressed mild ROP.
Methods:
Eight preterm babies (mean GA 28,88 and mean BW 973,7grams), with a mild ROP diagnosed in the Catholic University NICU in Rome, underwent fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography (FA) using RetCam (Clarity, Pleasanton, CA) at a mean age of 33,6 months of chronological age. ROP experts retrospectively examined fAs. Peripheral and central retinal and choroideal abnormalities were observed and classified.
Results:
Avascular areas are observed in the extreme retinal periphery in all but one baby. Retinal and choroideal capillary obliteration and artero-venous shunts are frequent. Abnormal vessels branching and leakage are rare Choroideal circulation seems to remain immature only in three eyes.
Conclusions:
Using FA, we have assessed the persistence of peripheral retinal avascularity, with rare abnormal vessels branching and leakage. Loss of capillary beds inside the vascularized retina and retino-choroideal hypo perfusion areas affects only the periphery. Further studies are needed to classify these long lasting vascular abnormalities and better understand their implications for visual function of the child.
Keywords: 706 retinopathy of prematurity