title: Choroid development and feasibility of choroidal imaging in the preterm and term infants utilizing SD-OCT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether choroidal imaging is feasible in preterm and term infants using an 840-nm portable spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system without the use of enhanced-depth imaging techniques and to assess choroidal development by comparing choroidal thickness of preterm infants, term infants, and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  SD-OCT images were obtained from 86 preterm infants, 59 term infants, and nine adults using a portable SD-OCT system plus nine adults using a tabletop system. An unprocessed image across the macula from one randomly selected eye of each participant was selected for determination of whether the choroidal-scleral junction (CSJ) could be visualized and for measurement of choroidal thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subfoveal CSJ was visualized in 96% of young-preterm infants (imaged from 30-36 weeks postmenstrual age [PMA]); 78% of term-aged preterm infants (imaged from 37-42 weeks PMA); 49% of term infants; and 39% of adult subjects. Racial pigmentation did not affect CSJ visibility in young-preterm infants (P = 0.57). Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in young-preterm infants, term-aged preterm infants, term infants, and adults was 176 ± 53 μm, 289 ± 92 μm, 329 ± 66 μm, and 258 ± 66 μm, respectively, and these were all statistically significantly different from one another except term-aged preterms to adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infant choroid can be imaged with a portable SD-OCT system without enhanced depth imaging. Melanin in the RPE and choroid does not hinder outer choroidal imaging in young-preterm infants without advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In preterm infants, choroidal thickness increased with age but was thinner when compared to term infants suggesting delayed development due to ROP.
authors: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. cynthia.toth@duke.edu
authors: Tomas A
authors: TA
authors: Moreno
authors: Rachelle V
authors: RV
authors: O'Connell
authors: Stephanie J
authors: SJ
authors: Chiu
authors: Sina
authors: S
authors: Farsiu
authors: Michelle T
authors: MT
authors: Cabrera
authors: Ramiro S
authors: RS
authors: Maldonado
authors: Du
authors: D
authors: Tran-Viet
authors: Sharon F
authors: SF
authors: Freedman
authors: David K
authors: DK
authors: Wallace
authors: Cynthia A
authors: CA
authors: Toth
mesh_terms: D002829:Choroid / Q000254:growth & development*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: choroid; ocular development; optical coherence tomography; retinopathy of prematurity
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