Functional and Structural Findings in Infants Treated for Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the foveal microvascular structure of children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with diode laser photocoagulation using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: OCTA was performed at a tertiary medical center in 17 children (27 eyes) aged 4 to 16 years with a history of diode laser photocoagulation treated ROP. OCTA parameters were compared with those of 12 healthy age-matched controls (23 eyes) attending the orthoptics clinic and correlated with clinical factors. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the ROP group had a smaller foveal avascular zone area ( P < .001), lower deep vascular plexus density ( P < .001), lower flow density ( P = .025), and greater central macular thickness ( P < .001). High intraventricular hemorrhage grade correlated with smaller foveal avascular zone area ( P = .008) and greater inner macular thickness ( P = .047). There was no impact of gestational age, birth weight, or refractive status. CONCLUSION: OCTA can identify significant quantifiable long-term macular microvascular and structural changes in this patient population. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina . 2022;53(4):194–201.]