title: Macular parameters and prematurity: A spectral domain coherence tomography study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of premature birth with macular parameters measured by spectral domain coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Sydney Adolescent Vascular and Eye Study performed eye examinations in school students across Sydney between 2009 and 2011. Visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction, and optical biometry measurements were recorded. Macular parameters were measured with SD-OCT. Questionnaires previously completed by the participants' parents were used to determine perinatal and medical history. Children with retinal disease or a known history of retinopathy of prematurity were excluded from the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macular measurements from the right eye of 1,672 participants ages 10-19 years were analyzed. The central subfield in those born at ≤32 weeks' gestational age was significantly thicker than those born at ≥37 weeks' gestational age (266.3 μm vs 251.7 μm, P = 0.0007). The average cube thickness and average outer macular ring thickness were smaller in those born at ≤32 weeks compared with those born at ≥37 weeks (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Similarly, the cube volume was smaller in the ≤32 weeks' group compared with the ≥37 weeks' group (P = 0.04). No significant differences were found between the 33-36 weeks' group and the ≥37 weeks' group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison to babies born at term, thicker central maculas and thinner macular outer rings were found in children born <33 weeks gestational age when measured by SD-OCT at ages 10-19 years.
authors: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Yasser M
authors: YM
authors: Tariq
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Burlutsky
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009184:Mydriatics