Foveal dysplasia evident by optical coherence tomography in patients with a history of retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings for patients with a history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

Clinical records, fundus photographs, and OCT findings for consecutive patients aged 8 years and older who had a history of ROP were reviewed. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness (CFT), macular anatomy, and foveal contour by OCT.

RESULTS

Twenty eyes of 12 patients (median age, 15 years) were studied. Median gestational age at birth was 25 weeks. Six eyes had received peripheral retinal ablation for threshold ROP. Median best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 (range, 20/20 to counting fingers). CFT was >220 microm in 70% of eyes and >240 microm in 35% of eyes. In all eyes, foveal contour was abnormal, with foveal depression either absent (n = 7 [35%]) or shallow (n = 13 [65%]). Preservation of multiple inner retinal layers within the fovea was seen in 14 eyes (70%). Vitreomacular traction or subretinal fluid was not seen in any eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Anomalies in foveal anatomy by OCT may be a vestige of prematurity, appear to be independent of prior retinopexy, and can still be associated with excellent visual acuity.