Abstract
Purpose :
The interest in studying the risks of being born moderate-to-late preterm (MLP) has increased during recent years, however, the ophthalmological aspects are not fully investigated. We performed a prospective, observational clinical study to learn more about visual function and ocular fundus morphology in relation to auxological data, growth factors and blood pressure in MLP children at 10 years of age.
Methods :
This longitudinal study was performed in MLP children born in Gothenburg, Sweden, during year 2002–2003. The children were investigated neonatally and followed-up 10 years later. At 10 years of age, 33 children born MLP (10 girls, 23 boys) of whom 9 were born small for gestational age (SGA), were examined. An age- and sex-matched control group consisted of 28 children (9 girls, 19 boys). Main outcomes and measures were visual acuity, refraction and fundus morphology. Auxological data, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), leptin, adiponectin and blood pressure were measured.
Results :
Refractive errors were more commonly found in MLP children compared to controls (p=.006; 95% CI, 9.9-56.6). Furthermore, the MLP group had smaller optic disc area (p=.011; 95% CI, -0.5–(-0.1)), smaller rim area (p=.001; 95% CI, -0.5–(-0.2)), less branching points (p<.001; 95% CI, -5.7–(-2.1)), higher index of tortuosity of arteries (p=.028; 95% CI, 0.002–0.033) and veins (p=.017; 95% CI, 0.003–0.022). Refraction correlated with IGF-I levels (p<.001; r=.60, in right eye, and p=.002; r=.55, in left eye) at 10 years of age. Tortuosity of arteries at assessment correlated with neonatal IGF-I levels (p=.029; r=-.39). Tortuosity of veins was associated with the leptin/adiponectin ratio at assessment (p=.044; r=.37).
Conclusions :
The findings suggest that being born MLP is associated with refractive errors, smaller optic disc and rim areas, as well as abnormal retinal vascularization. Moreover, metabolic status and growth factors seem to have an impact on ocular development.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.