Abstract
Purpose::
To determine if there were significant functional and anatomical differences between subjects with macular heterotopia as a result of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and age-equivalent subjects with normal vision.
Methods::
We recruited 6 patients with ROP between the ages of 18 and 65 years and 3 age-equivalent subjects with normal vision. The patients’ myopia ranged between -2.00 DS and -10.00 DS with visual acuities ranging from 20/20 to 20/80. Visual function and macular structural assessments were performed on the better eye of the patients with ROP and the dominant eye of those subjects with normal vision. We measured high contrast visual acuity and contrast sensitivity using the ETDRS chart and Pelli-Robson chart. Fixation location, fixation stability and macular sensitivity were assessed using the Nidek Microperimeter-1. Macular thickness at fixation and macular structures were assessed using Optical Coherence Tomography.
Results::
Patients with macular heterotopia had significantly increased macular thickness at fixation in comparison to their age-equivalent counterparts (t = 2.375, p = 0.05). A normal foveal architecture was not visible in three patients (50%) with macular heterotopia. Further, the patients with macular heterotopia had significantly worse visual acuity than those with normal vision (t = 2.571, p = 0.04).
Conclusions::
Patients with macular heterotopia due to ROP have altered macular structure which is likely to contribute to the reduction in vision.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • macula/fovea • retinal development