Opttico-Anatomical Changes in Prematurity Children Eyes

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of our work was to determine changes in optical-anatomical elements of myopic eyes of full-term and premature children during accommodation by means of precise ultrasonic biometry. Method: The study was made on healthy full-term children’s eyes with emmetropic refraction (group, n = 20); fullterm 1st degree myopic children’s eyes with refraction from −1.0 D to −3.0 D (group 2, n = 16), and premature children’s myopic eyes with refraction −1.0 D to −3.0 D (group 3, n = 12). The age of children ranged from 6 to 15 years. Gestational age in the preterm group ranged from 25 to 34 weeks. All were seen in the clinic for the risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity. Results: Ultrasonic biometry evaluates optical-anatomical parameters in premature children’s myopic eyes. Axial length was longer than in healthy and full-term myopic children’s eyes (mean, 24.09 ± 0.69 mm) and lens thickness was bigger (mean 3.35 ± 0.14 mm). In the healthy children’s group: axial length was 23.49 ± 0.48 mm and lens thickness 3.00 ± 0.07 mm, and in the full-term myopic children’s group the axial length was 23.79 ± 0.59 mm and lens thickness 3.24 ± 0.14 mm. Conclusion: In the group of premature children changes in the optical-anatomical elements parameters of myopic eyes were more pronounced than in the group of full-term children, and it could lead to higher myopia development.