FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF YOUNG INFANTS WITH AND WITHOUT MACULAR EDEMA.
OBJECTIVE
The authors relate posterior segment microanatomy from perinatal spectral domain optical coherence tomography to visual acuity, brain abnormalities, and neurodevelopment.


METHODS
Thirteen infants (11 preterm and 2 term birth), imaged in the nursery with portable spectral domain optical coherence tomography, had visual acuity and sensorimotor testing at age 9 months to 15 months (grating acuity) or 4 years to 5 years (optotype), and medical records reviewed for brain magnetic resonance imaging reports and Bayley scales testing at age 18 months to 24 months.


RESULTS
Eight children with age-appropriate macular microanatomy without edema on perinatal spectral domain optical coherence tomography had optimal (≥ 20/40) or within normal limits (grating acuity) visual acuity. Five children with perinatal macular edema had suboptimal visual acuity (in 9/10 eyes) and sensorimotor deficits, magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, or poor neurodevelopment. Macular edema persisted in 1 infant through 9-month corrected age.


CONCLUSIONS
Maturation of the visual system and evolution of retinal anomalies can be monitored with posterior segment spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Retinal microanatomy observed in infancy might relate to subsequent vision and other central nervous system events, but additional studies are needed to determine the range of normal microanatomy in infants and how this relates to vision and neurodevelopment.
*Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina; †Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina; and ‡Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Adam L
AL
Rothman
Du
D
Tran-Viet
Lejla
L
Vajzovic
Vincent
V
Tai
Neeru
N
Sarin
Sandra
S
Holgado
Kathryn E
KE
Gustafson
C Michael
CM
Cotten
Sharon F
SF
Freedman
Cynthia A
CA
Toth
D001724:Birth Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*