NPOG 2009 Abstract template

Foredragsholder / Presenter

Navn / Name : Eva Larsson

Institusjon/Institution: Institutionen för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Avdeling / Department : Uppsala Universitet

Gate / Street: Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala

Post nr. / zip code: 751 85

Land / Country: Sverige

Medforfattere / Co-authors:

Navn / Name: Hanna Åkerblom

Institution: Institutionen för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Avdeling / Department: Uppsala Universitet

Navn / Name: Urban Eriksson

Institution: Institutionen för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Avdeling / Department: Uppsala Universitet

Navn / Name: Gerd Holmström

Institution: Institutionen för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Avdeling / Department: Uppsala Universitet

ABSTRACT

Macular and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, assessed with OCT, in prematurely-born children compared to children born at term – preliminary results.

E Larsson, H Åkerblom, U Eriksson, G Holmström

Department of Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

Aim: To report the macular thickness and the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT), in prematurely-born children and compare with full-term children with normal birth weights.

Methods: Fifty-four prematurely-born children and 56 full-term children, aged 5-16 years, were examined with OCT. The OCT (version 4) fast macular map protocol was used for the measurements of macula. The peripapillary measurement of the RNFL was performed with the standard protocol with 3 circular scans around the optic nerve head. All preterm children were included. In the children born at term only eyes with normal visual acuity and refraction were included.

Results: The central macular thickness assessed with OCT was 221 (SD 20) microns in right and 223 (SD 21) in left eyes in the prematurely-born children compared to 204 (SD 19) microns in the control group (p< 0.05). There was no difference between the groups regarding the total macular volume. There was no difference between prematurely-born and full-term children regarding the average RNFL.

Discussion: In the present study, the central macula was thicker in the prematurely-born children than in children born at term indicating a disturbance in retinal morphology in preterm children. Previous studies have found reduced visual acuity in prematurely-born children, also in children without ROP, compared to full-term ones. Whether the thicker macula is a cause for reduced visual acuity has to be further investigated.