Corneal aberrations and anterior segment parameters in preterm children with or without a history of retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare corneal aberrations and anterior segment parameters in preterm children, aged 4-8 years, with or without a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: A comparative cohort study was conducted using corneal tomography to analyse anterior segment parameters in preterm children. Four groups of children were included (n = 30 in each group): children with a history of ROP who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab, children whose ROP regressed spontaneously and received no treatment, preterm children without ROP and age- and gender-matched full-term children.

Results: A total of 120 eyes from 120 children with a mean age of 6.63 ± 1.25 years were analysed. Mean anterior corneal curvature was significantly steeper in the treated ROP, spontaneously regressed ROP and preterm (no ROP) groups compared with full-term children (p < 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). Similarly, posterior corneal curvature was steeper in these same groups compared with full-term children (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). Further, the treated and spontaneously regressed ROP groups exhibited narrower iridocorneal angles compared with full-term children (p = 0.02 and p = 0.002, respectively). Higher order aberrations of the anterior cornea and trefoil of the total cornea were elevated in the treated ROP group compared with preterm children (both p = 0.02). Posterior spherical aberration was significantly higher in the spontaneously regressed ROP group compared with full-term controls (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Preterm children, regardless of their ROP status, demonstrated steeper anterior and posterior corneal curvatures than full-term children. Children with a history of ROP also exhibited narrower iridocorneal angles and increased corneal aberrations.