Abstract
Purpose: To determine whether prematurity and associated factors affect the anterior chamber angle (ACA) width in adulthood. Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination of adults (age 18–52 years) in Germany. All participants were examined with Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) using linear regression analysis to assess the associations of ACA in the different sectors with gestational age (GA), birth weight, birth weight percentile, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), ROP treatment, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, and breastfeeding. Results: In total, 516 eyes of 319 preterm and full-term individuals (aged 28.9 ± 8.8 years, 188 females) were examined. ROP treatment was associated with smaller ACA width in the nasal (B = −9.6 [95%CI: −14.7; −4.5] degree; p < 0.001) and temporal positions (B = −11.5 [95%CI: −17.7; −5.3] degree; p = 0.001), whereas non-treated individuals with ROP had an unaltered ACA width, as did individuals with low gestational age without ROP. Conclusion: Advanced stages of ROP following treatment with laser- and cryocoagulation lead to a smaller ACA width until adulthood, and hence may increase the risk of angle closure in later life.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilPrematurity, low birth weight, and the postnatal occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are associated with altered ocular anatomic development in childhood
131 participants were excluded because Scheimpflug imaging was not possible, anterior chamber angle (ACA) width segmentation errors occurred, or cataract surgery had been conducted
This study provides the first data about the association of prematurity and associated factors with ACA width in adulthood
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilPrematurity, low birth weight, and the postnatal occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are associated with altered ocular anatomic development in childhood. In a recent populationbased report of adults aged 40 to 80 years, a steeper and thinner cornea, a smaller corneal diameter, and shorter axial length were reported in individuals born with a low birth weight (
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