The Structural and Functional Impact of Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Group of School-Aged Children

Theme: Paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
What: Paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
Part of: Paediatrics III: Retinopathy of Prematurity - Pathophysiology and Best Evidence for Prevention and Treatment / Pédiatrie III: Rétinopathie du prématuré - Pathophysiologie et meilleures données probantes pour la prévention et le traitement
When: 6/2/2024, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Where: Room | Salle 714 A

Abstract

Purpose:

Increased survival of extremely premature infants has raised concerns for this population’s long-term outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional and structural effects of retinopathy of prematurity in a group of school-aged children.

Study design:

Clinical cross-sectional study.

Methodology:

Participants were recruited into three groups: "ex-ROP" (individuals born prematurely with a prior ROP diagnosis), "Preterm" (individuals born prematurely without a prior ROP diagnosis) and "Term" (full-term) individuals. Ex-ROP and Preterm participants were derived from the Health of Adults born Preterm Investigation (HAPI) cohort. Both eyes were included in the study. Participants received a comprehensive ophthalmological assessment including OCT imaging and flash and multifocal ERG. Statistical analysis was conducted on SPSS version 28.0.1.0.

Results:

18 participants, aged 7.9 to 13.7 years, were enrolled in the study, including 9 ex-ROP, 6 Preterm, and 3 Term. The ex-ROP group exhibited slightly worse best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (logMAR 0.08) and a significantly higher prevalence of astigmatism (56%), compared to the Preterm (logMAR -0.01 [p=0.027]; 8% [p=0.008]) and Term (logMAR 0.01 [p=0.013]; 0% [p=0.01]) groups. Cylindrical errors were increased in the ex-ROP group (0.99 ± 0.70 D vs Preterm 0.25 ± 0.32 D [p<0.001] vs Term 0.17 ± 0.26 D [p=0.012]). In the macular OCT scans, ex-ROP participants displayed increased retinal thickness in the fovea (303 ± 34 μm vs Preterm 259 ± 27 μm [p=<0.01]) vs Term 239 ± 13 μm [p=0.019]) and parafovea (313 ± 24 μm vs Preterm 261 ± 27 μm [p=0.002] vs Term 281 μm ± 9 μm [p=0.002]). In flash ERG testing, attenuation in retinal function was observed in several parameters for the ex-ROP group, notably in the a-wave and b-wave amplitudes under both photopic and scotopic conditions. Ex-ROP and Preterm participants showed decreased Multifocal ERG responses, especially in the parafovea, but this was not significant.

Conclusions:

Our study indicates that a history of ROP is associated with worse BCVA, increased astigmatism, foveolar thickening, and diminished panretinal function on electrophysiological testing in a group of school-aged children. Consequently, ROP should not be regarded solely as a disease of infancy but rather as a lifelong condition capable of longstanding effects.

 

Presenter(s)

Presenting Author: Youjin Elizabeth Youn

Additional Author(s):

Valentina Parra, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal

Tianwei Ellen Zhou, Ophthalmology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Allison L. Dorfman, Ophthalmology, Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Anna Polosa, Ophthalmology, Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Patrick Hamel, Ophthalmology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Thuy Mai Luu, Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Anne Monique Nuyt, Neonatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Sylvain Chemtob, Ophthalmology, Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Anik Cloutier, Ophthalmology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Cynthia Xin-Ya Qian, Ophthalmology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.

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