Structure-function correlation of central retinal changes in prematures with spontaneously resolved and without ROP at the age of 6-13 years compared to age-matched normals

Abstract

Purpose : To investigate the impact of morphological alterations of retinal layer thicknesses measured with SDOCT in school aged former premature children on functional results with microperimetry and chromatic pupillometry (CP).

Methods : One hundred fifty former prematures originally participating in a prospective postnatal telemedical study with digital wide-field retinal imaging and 30 age-matched term-born children were enrolled in this prospective follow-up study at 6-13 years. The prematures were categorized by the results of the initial ROP-screening: without ROP (no-ROP; n=100) and with spontaneously resolved ROP (sr-ROP; n=50). In addition, they were assigned to groups by birth weight (BW) into <1000g, 1000-1500g, >1500g, and gestational age (GA) into ≤28 Weeks (W), >28 - ≤32 W, and >32 W. All participants underwent a comprehensive examination protocol, including orthoptic examination for strabismus, amblyopia, and refraction. Visual acuity (VA) was assessed with ETDRS letters, light increment sensitivity (LIS) measured at 0°, 2,8° and 8° in the visual field using the MP1 (Nidek, Italy), and CP performed under scotopic (sCP) and photopic conditions (pCP). SDOCT single and volume scans through the fovea were automatically segmented into layers with a custom made software (DiOCTA).

Results : Central and pericentral LIS (0° and 2.8°) and VA were significantly lower in all prematures. No significant differences were found for LIS at 8°. pCP showed a trend towards lower function but sCP was normal. Total retinal thickness, ganglion cell layer (GCL+) and outer nuclear layer (ONL+) thicknesses at the foveal center were larger in preterms. GA and BW were inversely correlated with these parameters. VA, LIS and pCP were not correlated with whole retinal or single layers thicknesses.

Conclusions : Low BW and GA were associated with significantly decreased central visual function. In addition to VA, LIS measurement further describes foveal function and is a unique parameter to describe perifoveal function. CP showed only a trend towards reduced cone function. Our SDOCT data demonstrated increased thicknesses for total retina, GCL+ and ONL+ layers at the foveal center of prematures without and with ROP. Surprisingly, significant structural retinal changes did not have an impact on retinal function in prematures without ROP and srROP.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.