Macular parameters and prematurity: A spectral domain coherence tomography study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the association of premature birth with macular parameters measured by spectral domain coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: The Sydney Adolescent Vascular and Eye Study performed eye examinations in school students across Sydney between 2009 and 2011. Visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction, and optical biometry measurements were recorded. Macular parameters were measured with SD-OCT. Questionnaires previously completed by the participants' parents were used to determine perinatal and medical history. Children with retinal disease or a known history of retinopathy of prematurity were excluded from the analysis.

Results: Macular measurements from the right eye of 1,672 participants ages 10-19 years were analyzed. The central subfield in those born at ≤32 weeks' gestational age was significantly thicker than those born at ≥37 weeks' gestational age (266.3 μm vs 251.7 μm, P = 0.0007). The average cube thickness and average outer macular ring thickness were smaller in those born at ≤32 weeks compared with those born at ≥37 weeks (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Similarly, the cube volume was smaller in the ≤32 weeks' group compared with the ≥37 weeks' group (P = 0.04). No significant differences were found between the 33-36 weeks' group and the ≥37 weeks' group.

Conclusions: In comparison to babies born at term, thicker central maculas and thinner macular outer rings were found in children born <33 weeks gestational age when measured by SD-OCT at ages 10-19 years.