Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the retinal, macular, and optic nerve functions, using electrophysiological tests, in preterm children at school age to healthy controls. Patients and methods This is a prospective cross-sectional observational study that was conducted at the Department o...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Delta Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/djo.djo_68_24 |
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| Summary: | Purpose
The aim of this study was to compare the retinal, macular, and optic nerve functions, using electrophysiological tests, in preterm children at school age to healthy controls.
Patients and methods
This is a prospective cross-sectional observational study that was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. The study included 30 former preterm children born before 32 weeks of gestation with a low birth weight (<2 kg) at the school age with no history of retinopathy of prematurity or any ocular morbidity and 30 full-term children as a control group. Complete ophthalmological examination and electrophysiological work up was done to all participants.
Results
The age of both groups ranged from 5 to 15 years. There was no statistically significant difference in age between the two groups (study group=10.03±3.08 years and control group=10.40±2.91 years, P=0.637). In addition, the distribution of sex was comparable between the two groups (63.3% of the study group were males and 60% of the control group were males), with no statistically significant difference (P=0.791). The study group mean best corrected visual acuity (0.10±0.04 Log MAR) was significantly worse than the control group (0.01±0.02 Log MAR, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding all performed electrophysiological tests (all P<0.001). The mean reaction of the combined rod-cone response was significantly lower in the study group (103.6±20.54 µν) in comparison to the control group (142.9±7.23 µν). The photonic flicker response was observed less in the study group (40.90±3.04 µν) than in the control group (57.13±6.15 µν). Additionally, the P50 wave component of the pattern electroretinogram was significantly less in the study group (1.99±0.42 ms) compared to the control group (6.76±1.09 ms). The amplitude of pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) was significantly lower in the study group (5.09±1.48 µν) in comparison to the control group (8.46±1.22 µν). In addition, the study group PVEP implicit duration (113.5±1.89 ms) was significantly longer than in the control group (109.7±3.39 ms).
Conclusion
There were statistically significant differences in retinal, macular, and optic nerve functions between preterm children and full-term children at school age across many parameters associated with visual function, as determined by electrophysiological testing. At school age, the preterm children showed worse results in best corrected visual acuity, rod-cone response, photonic flicker response, pattern electroretinogram (P50), PVEP amplitude, and implicit time compared to the full-term children. |
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| ISSN: | 1110-9173 |