Optic disc morphology in preterm children. Influence of gestational age and birth weight

Abstract

The characteristics of the optic disc and the development of the optic nerve can affect visual function in children. The purpose of our study was to assess optic disc morphology in preterm infants and to determine whether it is influenced by gestational age, birth weight and the presence of a retinopathy of prematurity. In a retrospective study, RetCam fundus images of 109 premature newborns admitted to our tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit were reviewed. We evaluated the cup to disc ratio (C/D), optic disc diameter, cup diameter, shape of the optic disc, adherence to the ISNT rule, and presence of a peripapillary atrophy. Of 218 photos, we found the following results: mean±SD gestational age 28.5±2.7 weeks, mean±SD birth weight 1122±394g, mean C/D 0.32. There was no significant correlation between C/D and gestational age or birth weight. Vertical disc diameter was greater than horizontal disc diameter, with a mean ratio (horizontal/vertical) of 4/5, lending an oval shape to the optic disc. Nineteen infants had retinopathy of prematurity in both eyes; ninety-three percent had peripapillary atrophy. In our study, optic disc morphology in premature newborns was not influenced by gestational age, birth weight or presence of premature retinopathy.