Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the anterior segment and ciliary body of premature infants and to establish if there is any relation among the parameters measured and the age of the patients.
Methods:
Twenty-three eyes of 12 patients at the intensive care unit were evaluated. Study protocol and consent forms were authorized by the Monica Pretelini hospital. All the patients were stable enough to undergo ocular examination. We excluded eyes with retinopathy of the prematurity greater than stage II. Under topical anesthesia we measured the anterior segment structures and the ciliary body by using a portable ultrasound biomicroscope with an ultrasound probe. Linear regression analysis was applied to the data obtained.
Results:
Mean values were: postconceptional age 31.5 weeks (SD: 3.5, range 27-37), weight at the time of the study 1,370g (SD: 570, range 840-2,890), anterior chamber depth 1.09mm (SD 0.14). At least one quadrant of these parameters was measured and we obtained: distance between scleral spur-ciliary body (mean 2.15mm, SD: 0.4), trabecular-iris angle (mean 19.92°, SD: 4.30), trabecular-ciliary processes distance (mean 0.71mm, SD: 0.09), sclera-ciliary body angle (mean 40.41°, SD: 4.38), ciliary body length (mean 1.52mm, SD: 0.17). The statistical analysis showed no correlation between the parameters measured and the age of the patients.
Conclusions:
Ultrasound biomicroscopy allows performing accurate evaluation even in immature eyes. This is the first study which attempts to establish normative values of the anterior segment and ciliary body in prematures. Although we did not found a positive correlation of any measures with the age, these findings can be taken into account when surgical procedures are made in premature infants.
Keywords: 550 imaging/image analysis: clinical •
552 imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) •
421 anterior segment