title: Analysis of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in preterm children: retinal layer thickness and choroidal thickness profiles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare retinal layer thickness and choroidal thickness profiles in preterm and full-term children using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed horizontal and vertical SD-OCT crosshair scans through the fovea with and without an enhanced depth technique in 31 premature and 30 full-term children. Retinal layer and choroidal thicknesses were measured at various locations including the fovea and 1.0 and 3.0 mm nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior to the fovea. After adjusting for age and the child's axial length, we compared retinal layer and choroidal thicknesses at the measurement points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total retinal thickness and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness at the foveal center in preterm children (256.00 ± 30.71 μm, 141.87 ± 28.75 μm, respectively) were larger than those in full-term children (217.57 ± 10.64 μm, 101.22 ± 10.90 μm, respectively, P < 0.001). Gestational age at birth was inversely correlated with both total retinal and ONL thicknesses (P < 0.001). Choroidal thickness 3.0 mm temporal to the fovea in preterm children (283.75 ± 60.47 μm) was significantly less than that in full-term children (339.89 ± 90.32, P = 0.010). Retinopathy of prematurity staging showed a marginal inverse correlation with choroidal thickness 3.0 mm temporal to the fovea (P = 0.053). Visual acuity in preterm children was not correlated with retinal thickness or choroidal thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our SD-OCT data demonstrated an increased total retinal thickness and ONL thickness at the foveal center and decreased choroidal thickness 3.0 mm temporal to the fovea in preterm children. Further studies are needed to better understand the association between these structural changes and visual functions in preterm children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sei Yeul
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity