A neuroectodermal hypothesis of the cause and relationship of myopia in retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the oculometric parameters in preterm infants with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to observe the effect of presence of ROP on development of myopia.


METHODS
A prospective study of preterm infants screened for ROP. Examination included fundus examination, cycloplegic refraction, and biometric measurements at three visits.


RESULTS
A total of 42 preterm infants were divided into two groups: preterm infants with ROP and preterm infants without ROP. Preterm infants with ROP who had myopia showed increased lens thickness with similar anterior segment lengths compared to preterm infants without ROP and preterm infants with ROP who did not have myopia.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased lens thickness in the absence of anterior segment arrest seems to be the major contributing factor for myopia in ROP.This change may be associated with altered neuroectodermal development in ROP.
Beri
Sarita
S
Lady Hardinge Medical College, D-38, Malka Ganj, New Delhi, India 110007.
Malhotra
Mridula
M
Dhawan
Anuradha
A
Garg
Rajiv
R
Jain
Rajesh
R
D'souza
Pamela
P
D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology; D001699:Biometry; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054258:Neural Plate / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology