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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mai A. Mohammed, Amr M. Elhady
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Delta Journal of Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/djo.djo_68_24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850131257624625152
author Mai A. Mohammed
Amr M. Elhady
author_facet Mai A. Mohammed
Amr M. Elhady
author_sort Mai A. Mohammed
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-a7778f54f85f4f7cb3db51da2195b187
institution OA Journals
issn 1110-9173
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Delta Journal of Ophthalmology
spelling doaj-art-a7778f54f85f4f7cb3db51da2195b1872025-08-20T02:32:29ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsDelta Journal of Ophthalmology1110-91732025-04-0126213414010.4103/djo.djo_68_24Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school ageMai A. MohammedAmr M. ElhadyPurpose 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.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/djo.djo_68_24electrophysiological testingmaculaoptic nervepreterm childrenretina
spellingShingle Mai A. Mohammed
Amr M. Elhady
Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
Delta Journal of Ophthalmology
electrophysiological testing
macula
optic nerve
preterm children
retina
title Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
title_full Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
title_fullStr Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
title_full_unstemmed Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
title_short Comparing functional state of retina, macula, and optic nerve in preterm children and full-term children at school age
title_sort comparing functional state of retina macula and optic nerve in preterm children and full term children at school age
topic electrophysiological testing
macula
optic nerve
preterm children
retina
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/djo.djo_68_24
work_keys_str_mv AT maiamohammed comparingfunctionalstateofretinamaculaandopticnerveinpretermchildrenandfulltermchildrenatschoolage
AT amrmelhady comparingfunctionalstateofretinamaculaandopticnerveinpretermchildrenandfulltermchildrenatschoolage