Microstructural changes in the retina in children with retinopathy of prematurity according to optical coherence tomography. Literature review

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a crucial problem in modern ophthalmology. ROP is a vasoproliferative disease of the eyes in premature infants. Approximately 50,000 children worldwide have become blind because of ROP. The determining indicator in the development of visual acuity is the morphofunctional state of the macula, structural changes of which can lead to disturbances in its functions and, consequently, decreased vision. The present review analyzed available OCT (optical coherence tomography) data on the morphometric and structural state of the retina in children with ROP. Morphometric features of the macular zone in children in the scar period of ROP can be presented by an increase in retinal thickness in the center of the fovea and changes in the profile of the macula by smoothness or absence of foveal depression. These are more pronounced in children after laser coagulation of the retina in the active phase of ROP and in very premature babies. In some cases with increased retinal thickness in the center of the fovea, the presence of internal layers and an increase in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer are noted. Structural features of the macula with favorable outcomes of RP can be expressed by traction displacement of the foveola, photoreceptor layer thinning and pigment epithelium unevenness, intra and epiretinal fibrosis, choriocapillaris layer atrophy, discontinuity of the connection of the outer and internal segments of the photoreceptors and the pigment epithelium–choriocapillaris complex, and central retinoschisis. Furthermore, this review presents mixed results from studies on the impact of structural changes in the macula in cicatricial ROP on visual function.