Macular morphology and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction
Morphobiometric evaluation of macula and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with the use of high-resolution optical coherence tomography in children with a history of regressed retinopathy of prematurity.

Material and methods
18 patients at the age of 8 to 14 years with a history of spontaneously regressed retinopathy of prematurity were studied prospectively. For statistical purposes a control group of 21 matched subjects at the age of 8 to 15 years was used. Ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography were performed in each patient. Peripapillary nerve fibre layer thickness, central foveal thickness, foveal and parafoveal thickness ratio, total macular volume and subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured in both groups.

Results
In the optical coherence tomography, the foveal thickness in children with retinopathy of prematurity was significantly higher [269.5 μm (232–321)] compared to the controls [224.5 μm (207–267)]. The macular volume in the study group was also higher (8,68 mm3) than in the control group (8,30 mm3). The subfoveal choroidal thickness was reduced in study group [321 μm (112–365)] compared to the control group [337 μm (294–358)]. There was no statistical significant difference in total peripapillary nerve fibre layer thickness between the two groups.

Conclusions
The morphobiometric macular changes in eyes with a history of regressed retinopathy of prematurity are possibly related to the developmental abnormalities, which can result from the decreased choroidal thickness in macular area. The increased foveal retinal thickness in some eyes with retinopathy of prematurity is due to the presence of the abnormal foveal structure across all retinal layers.