Achim Fieß1, Sandra Gißler2, Eva Mildenberger3, Michael S Urschitz4, Fred Zepp3, Esther M Hoffmann2, Marc A Brockmann5, Bernhard Stoffelns2, Norbert Pfeiffer2, Alexander K Schuster2. 1. From the Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (A.F., S.G., E.M.H., B.S., N.P., A.K.S.). Electronic address: Achim.fiess@gmail.com. 2. From the Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (A.F., S.G., E.M.H., B.S., N.P., A.K.S.). 3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (E.M., F.Z.). 4. Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (M.S.U.). 5. Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (M.A.B.), Mainz, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate associations of prematurity and associated factors with optic disc morphology in adulthood as long-term effects. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination of adults (age 18-52 years) in Germany. In every participant, photography of optic discs was performed with a nonmydriatic fundus camera, and optic disc measurements were done manually. The vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), optic disc area, and torted and tilted discs were assessed and exploratively compared between individuals with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with treatment, an ROP group without treatment and groups of individuals of different gestational ages (GAs) without ROP (GA ≤ 28 weeks, GA 29-32 weeks, GA 33-36 weeks, and GA ≥ 37 weeks [control group]). RESULTS: The present analysis included 743 eyes of 393 individuals born preterm and full-term (aged 28.4 ± 8.6 years, 223 females). The VCDR was significantly larger in subjects with a GA ≤28 weeks without ROP compared to the full-term control group (GA ≥37 weeks) (P = .002). Subjects with ROP without treatment also had a larger VCDR (P = .001), whereas those with ROP treatment showed a smaller VCDR than the full-term control group (P = .02). In addition, individuals with ROP treatment were more likely to have a torted disc than the full-term control group (P = .006). CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that individuals born extremely preterm have increased VCDR in adulthood. Furthermore, these results indicate that fetal origins affect optic disc morphology until adulthood, which might predispose the affected individual to degenerative optic nerve head diseases or being incorrectly diagnosed to glaucoma.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate associations of prematurity and associated factors with optic disc morphology in adulthood as long-term effects. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination of adults (age 18-52 years) in Germany. In every participant, photography of optic discs was performed with a nonmydriatic fundus camera, and optic disc measurements were done manually. The vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), optic disc area, and torted and tilted discs were assessed and exploratively compared between individuals with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with treatment, an ROP group without treatment and groups of individuals of different gestational ages (GAs) without ROP (GA ≤ 28 weeks, GA 29-32 weeks, GA 33-36 weeks, and GA ≥ 37 weeks [control group]). RESULTS: The present analysis included 743 eyes of 393 individuals born preterm and full-term (aged 28.4 ± 8.6 years, 223 females). The VCDR was significantly larger in subjects with a GA ≤28 weeks without ROP compared to the full-term control group (GA ≥37 weeks) (P = .002). Subjects with ROP without treatment also had a larger VCDR (P = .001), whereas those with ROP treatment showed a smaller VCDR than the full-term control group (P = .02). In addition, individuals with ROP treatment were more likely to have a torted disc than the full-term control group (P = .006). CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that individuals born extremely preterm have increased VCDR in adulthood. Furthermore, these results indicate that fetal origins affect optic disc morphology until adulthood, which might predispose the affected individual to degenerative optic nerve head diseases or being incorrectly diagnosed to glaucoma.
Authors: Achim Fieß; Kai Schulze; Stephanie D Grabitz; Sandra Gißler; Eva Mildenberger; Michael S Urschitz; Bernhard Stoffelns; Norbert Pfeiffer; Alexander K Schuster Journal: Transl Vis Sci Technol Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 3.048
Authors: Achim Fieß; Clara Hufschmidt-Merizian; Sandra Gißler; Ulrike Hampel; Eva Mildenberger; Michael S Urschitz; Fred Zepp; Bernhard Stoffelns; Norbert Pfeiffer; Alexander K Schuster Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-05-11 Impact factor: 4.964