Shorter axial length and steeper corneas found in preterm children with ROP

Children with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) exhibit significant differences in biometric parameters, specifically, shorter axial lengths and steeper corneas, according to a study.

The study analyzed biometric and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters in 120 eyes of 120 preterm children aged 4 to 8 years, including children who experienced preterm birth and received intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) treatment for ROP (n = 30), those whose ROP regressed without treatment (n = 30), and a control group of children without ROP (n = 30).

There were no significant differences in BCVA, spherical equivalent of refraction (SE), and subjective cylinder among the groups. However, children with a history of ROP exhibited significantly shorter axial lengths and steeper corneas than other groups. Central macular thickness was higher in the treated and regressed ROP groups and in preterm children than in full-term children. Gestational age showed a negative correlation with macular thickness in both treated and regressed ROP groups.

These results highlight that preterm children with a history of ROP demonstrate distinct ocular characteristics, including shorter axial lengths, steeper corneas, and thicker maculas, which correlate with lower gestational age.

Reference
Najjaran M, Zarei-Ghanavati S, Ostadimoghaddam H, et al. Ocular Biometric and Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters in Former Preterm Children: A Cohort Study. J Ophthalmol. 2024;2024:2381582. doi: 10.1155/2024/2381582. PMID: 39376685; PMCID: PMC11458276.