Exploring ocular fundus morphology in relation to growth in adolescents born moderate-to-late preterm.

Purpose: To study ocular fundus morphology and its relation to growth in adolescents born moderate-to-late preterm (MLP) and full term.

Methods: This prospective and population-based cohort study included 50 MLP adolescents (26 girls, mean age 16.5 years) and 50 full-term controls (30 girls, mean age 16.7 years). Optical coherence tomography measurements were studied in relation to gestational age, auxological data, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3).

Results: The MLP group showed an increased central macular retinal thickness (MRT) compared with controls in right eye (RE) (249.7 ± 21.0 vs. 239.9 ± 16.4 μm, p = 0.019). Moreover, the MLP group showed a thinner total peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (ppRNFL) thickness in RE (104.3 ± 8.5 vs. 109.1 ± 8.3, p = 0.0011). Nasal ppRNFL thickness was thinner in both RE (79.4 ± 13.2 vs. 85.0 ± 10.8, p = 0.0012) and left eye (LE) (77.0 ± 13.8 vs. 81.7 ± 13.4, p = 0.025) compared with controls. A weak association between total ppRNFL thickness and IGF-I levels was found (RE, r = 0.28, p = 0.032; LE, r = 0.27, p = 0.048), as well as between central MRT and a ratio between IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels (RE, r = 0.30, p = 0.022). Additionally, there was a correlation between optic cup/disc area ratio and birth weight (RE: r = -0.44, p = 0.0006; LE: r = -0.30, p = 0.026).

Conclusion: The present study suggests that growth and MLP birth may impact ocular fundus morphology. The MLP adolescents were shown to have thinner ppRNFL thickness and greater MRT, compared with full-term controls. Furthermore, a weak association between these structures and growth factors was found. In addition, the current study proposes that birth weight may impact optic disc parameters.