Wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscope imaging in newborn children

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

Wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) fundus imaging may have application for imaging and screening in full-term newborns. We use the Optos 200Tx to image healthy full-term newborns.

 

Methods

 

Newborn children were recruited and informed consent was signed by a parent/legal guardian. The child was held in a “flying baby position” by one of the parents, while one of the researchers supported the child’s head in front of the camera for optimal alignment of the image screen and opened the eye with either a finger or a cotton tip, a second researcher took the images. Neither eye-speculum nor mydriatics were used during the study. The children were either awake or asleep during the study.

 

Results

 

<br /> 59 participants were recruited (34 girls, 25 boys), mean age 16 days and mean gestational age 40±1 weeks. ResMax 100^o images were taken of one eye in 56 participants and 200^o wide-field images from 44. Of the 44 participants with wide-field images, 27 (61%) had at least one usable wide-field image (see figure) with the optic disc and parts of vessels in all quadrants of the fundus visible. Most were completely normal except one child that had minor retinal hemorrhages. Whether the child was asleep or awake did not influence the quality of the images.

 

Conclusions

 

Our results show that SLO wide-field fundus imaging is possible in healthy newborn full-term children without eye-speculum or mydriatics.<br /> Wide-field SLO imaging can be used for fundus screening in newborn children.