Comparison of iridocorneal angle in infants with retinopathy of prematurity and healthy infants using spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Abstract

To compare measurements and morphologic characteristics of the iridocorneal angle in preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and healthy infants using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). In this observational, case-control study, the eyes of children with ROP and healthy controls under 1 year old were imaged using SD-OCT without sedation to capture the iridocorneal angle. The ROP staging was made by a pediatric retinal specialist. The following measurements were analyzed with custom software: angle opening distance (AOD500) at 500 μm; angle opening in degrees (AOG); and angle recess area (ARA750). A total of 27 eyes of 14 children with ROP and 21 of 13 children without ROP were included. The mean gestational age of children in the ROP group was 30 weeks; of the controls, 35 weeks. The mean birth weight in the ROP group was 1,545 g; in the non-ROP group 2,100 g. Mean age at the time of the study was 18.1 (ROP group) vs 25.7 weeks (non-ROP). In the ROP group AOD500 was 477 μm (95% CI, 358-597 μm), AOG was 37.3° (95% CI, 30.4°-44.3°), and ARA750 was 231 mm(2) (CI 95%, 171-291 mm(2)). The same parameters on the non-ROP group were 400 μm (CI 95% 333-468 μm), 34.7° (CI 95% 30.4°-39°), and 203 mm(2) (95% CI, 171-236 mm(2)). The iris showed a more convex pattern on eyes with ROP (56% vs 23%). In this study cohort, children with ROP showed higher AOD500, AOG, and ARA750, perhaps because of different patterns of physiological development in children with ROP.