Foveal fine structure in retinopathy of prematurity: an adaptive optics Fourier domain optical coherence tomography study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the fine structure of the fovea in subjects with a history of mild retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using adaptive optics-Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (AO-FDOCT).


METHODS
High-speed, high-resolution AO-FDOCT videos were recorded in subjects with a history of ROP (n = 5; age range, 14-26 years) and in control subjects (n = 5; age range, 18-25 years). Custom software was used to extract foveal pit depth and volume from three-dimensional (3-D) retinal maps. The thickness of retinal layers as a function of retinal eccentricity was measured manually. The retinal vasculature in the parafoveal region was assessed.


RESULTS
The foveal pit was wider and shallower in ROP than in control subjects. Mean pit depth, defined from the base to the level at which the pit reaches a lateral radius of 728 microm, was 121 microm compared with 53 microm. Intact, contiguous inner retinal layers overlay the fovea in ROP subjects but were absent in the control subjects. Mean full retinal thickness at the fovea was greater in the subjects with ROP (279.0 microm vs. 190.2 microm). The photoreceptor layer thickness did not differ between ROP and control subjects. An avascular zone was not identified in the subjects with ROP but was present in all the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The foveas of subjects with a history of mild ROP have significant structural abnormalities that are probably a consequence of perturbations of neurovascular development.
Hammer
Daniel X
DX
Physical Sciences Inc., 20 New England Business Center, Andover, MA 01810, USA. hammer@psicorp.com
Iftimia
Nicusor V
NV
Ferguson
R Daniel
RD
Bigelow
Chad E
CE
Ustun
Teoman E
TE
Barnaby
Amber M
AM
Fulton
Anne B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity