Foveal Fine Structure in Retinopathy of Prematurity: An Adaptive Optics Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Study

¹ Physical Sciences Inc., 20 New England Business Center, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810, United States
² Physical Sciences Inc., Andover, Massachusetts, United States
³ Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hammer{at}psicorp.com.

	Abstract

Purpose: To describe the fine structure of the fovea in subjects with a history of mild retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using adaptive optics Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (AO-FDOCT). Methods: High-speed, high resolution AO-FDOCT videos were recorded from subjects with a history of ROP (N=5, aged 14-27 years) and from control subjects (N=5, aged 18-25 years). Custom software was used to extract foveal pit depth and volume from 3-D retinal maps. The thickness of retinal layers as a function of retinal eccentricity was measured manually. The retinal vasculature in the parafoveal region was assessed. Results: The foveal pit was wider and more shallow in ROP than control subjects. Mean pit depth, defined from the base to the level at which the pit reaches a lateral radius of 728 µm, was 121 µm compared to 53 µm. Intact, contiguous inner retinal layers overlay the fovea in ROP subjects but were absent in the control subjects. Mean full retinal thickness at the fovea was greater in ROP subjects (279.0 vs. 190.2 µm). The photoreceptor layer thickness did not differ between ROP and control subjects. An avascular zone could not be identified in ROP subjects but was present in all control subjects. Conclusions: The foveas of subjects with a history of mild ROP have significant structural abnormalities that are likely a consequence of perturbations of neurovascular development.

Key Words: retinopathy of prematurity, optical coherence tomography, development, ocular, infant vision, adaptive optics, Fourier domain OCT