Very Preterm Infant Retinal Microanatomy at 36 Weeks’ Postmenstrual Age and 2-Year Neurodevelopment

Are retinal microanatomy findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks’ gestational age) infants’ eyes associated with later neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes?In a cohort study of 72 VPT infants, thicker retinal nerve fiber layer measured on bedside OCT at 36 weeks’ premenstrual age was associated with higher Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition composite motor and cognitive scores and lower autism risk scores and internalizing behavior problem scores at 2 years, after correcting for being small for gestational age and maternal education.Retinal OCT imaging before term age may aid in identifying 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes in VPT infants.

Corresponding Author: Cynthia A. Toth, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Room 1003 AERI, 2351 Erwin Rd, DUMC Box 3802, Durham, NC 27710 (cynthia.toth@duke.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.