Visual acuity, amblyopia, and vision-related quality of life in preterm adults with and without ROP : results from the Gutenberg prematurity eye study

Objectives This study investigated the effects of prematurity and ROP on visual acuity and VRQoL in adults (18–52 years). Methods The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination. Preterm and full-term participants at an age from 18 to 52 years were included. Distant corrected visual acuity (DCVA) and VRQoL were assessed in participants (892 eyes of 450 individuals aged 28.6 ± 8.6 years, 251 females) grouped into full-term controls (gestational age [GA] at birth ≥37 weeks), preterm participants without ROP and GA 33–36 weeks (group 2), GA 29–32 weeks (group 3), GA ≤ 28 weeks (group 4), non-treated ROP (group 5) and treated ROP (group 6). Main outcome measures were distant corrected visual acuity (DCVA), VRQoL and prevalence of amblyopia. Results The DCVA of the better eye correlated (p < 0.001) with GA, birth weight, ROP, ROP treatment, and perinatal adverse events and was poorer in both ROP groups. Visual acuity of <20/200 in the better eye was observed in two participants (4.2%) in the ROP group and one person (6.7%) in the treated ROP group. The prevalence of amblyopia increased in the ROP groups. Compared to full-term controls, visual functioning VRQoL scores were lower in preterm individuals independent of ROP while socioemotional VRQoL scores were only lower in the treated ROP group. Conclusion Participants with postnatal ROP and its treatment showed decreased visual acuity and VRQol in adulthood, with amblyopia occurring more frequently in more preterm participants with ROP

The role of preterm birth, retinopathy of prematurity and perinatal factors on corneal aberrations in adulthood : results from the Gutenberg prematurity eye study

Introduction Prematurity and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are associated with altered corneal shape and reduced visual acuity in childhood, but their long-term effects on corneal shape in later life are still unclear. This study evaluated whether prematurity and related perinatal factors are associated with corneal aberrations in adulthood. Methods The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a cohort study using Scheimpflug imaging of the cornea. Associations were assessed between corneal Zernike aberrations and gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), BW percentile, ROP occurrence, ROP treatment and other perinatal factors using univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses. Results This study involved 444 eyes of 256 individuals born preterm (aged 28.1 ± 8.4 years, 146 females) and 231 eyes of 132 individuals born full-term (aged 29.8 ± 8.9 years, 77 females). Multivariable analyses revealed an association between corneal higher-order aberrations and lower birth weight percentile (B = −0.001, p < 0.001) as well as ROP treatment (B = 0.120, p = 0.03). Corneal lower-order aberrations were also associated with lower birth weight percentile (B = −0.004; p = 0.001) and ROP treatment (B = 0.838, p = 0.01) but not with ROP occurrence. Increased corneal aberrations were correlated with lower visual acuity and the spherical equivalent refractive error. Conclusions Perinatal factors, particularly low birth weight percentile and ROP treatment lead to a more irregular corneal shape in adulthood, thereby reducing optical image quality and potentially contributing to reduced visual acuity and altered refractive error

Dry Eye Parameters and Lid Geometry in Adults Born Extremely, Very, and Moderately Preterm with and without ROP: Results from the Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study

Background/Aims: This study aimed to analyze the effects of perinatal history on tear film properties and lid geometry in adults born preterm. Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a German prospective examination of adults born preterm and term aged 18 to 52 years with Keratograph® 5M and Schirmer test I. Main outcome measures were first non-invasive tear film break-up time (F-NITBUT), bulbar redness (BR), Schirmer test, and nasal palpebral angle measurement. The associations with gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and BW percentile, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), ROP treatment, and other perinatal factors were evaluated using regression analyses. Results: 489 eyes of 255 preterm and 277 eyes of 139 full-term individuals (aged 28.6 +/− 8.8 years, 220 females) were included. Of these, 33 participants (56 eyes) had a history of spontaneously regressed ROP and 9 participants (16 eyes) had a history of ROP treatment. After adjustment for age and sex, lower F-NITBUT (<20 s) was associated with ROP treatment (OR = 4.42; p = 0.025). Lower GA correlated with increased bulbar redness (B = −0.02; p = 0.011) and increased length of wetting in the Schirmer test (B = −0.69; p = 0.003). Furthermore, low GA was associated with narrowing of the nasal palpebral angle (B = 0.22; p = 0.011) adjusted for age and sex, but not when considering ROP in the multivariable model. Conclusion: Our analyses indicate that perinatal history affects ocular surface properties, tear production and lid geometry in adults born term and preterm. This might indicate that affected persons have a predisposition to diseases of the corneal surface such as the dry eye disease

Risk factors of a reduced response to ranibizumab treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration : evaluation in a clinical setting

BACKGROUND: To identify risk factors for being a "reduced responder" to ranibizumab treatment in a clinical setting in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: This retrospective study included 165 eyes of 165 consecutive patients with choroidal neovascularisation secondary to neovascular, age-related macular degeneration. Eyes were treated with three intravitreal injections of ranibizumab, followed by PRN (pro re nata) dosing thereafter. All patients were reevaluated every four weeks and then followed for six months. Reduced responders were defined as patients with a loss in visual acuity of at least 1 visual acuity line at the last follow-up and/or persistent intraretinal or subretinal fluid or detectable choroidal neovascularisation at the last follow-up, compared to baseline. RESULTS: Overall, 58 out of 165 eyes (35.2%) were considered to be reduced responders to treatment at the end of follow-up. The initial CNV size at baseline was correlated with the risk of being a reduced responder at the end of follow-up (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: We identified the initial lesion size as a predictor for a reduced response to treatment in this study. Patients with a large initial lesion size should be thoroughly informed about the possible poorer response to the intravitreal treatment

Deep Sclerectomy with Goniosynechiolysis Ab Interno for Chronic Glaucoma Associated with Peripheral Anterior Synechiae

Purpose. To report one-year results of phacoemulsification combined with deep sclerectomy and goniosynechiolysis ab interno for chronic glaucoma associated with peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS). Methods. We retrospectively analyzed medical charts of 16 patients (20 eyes) treated by one-site combined phacoemulsification and deep sclerectomy with goniosynechiolysis ab interno. PAS were transected by a spatula introduced into the anterior chamber through a paracentesis. To account for the correlation of right and left eyes a linear mixed model with unstructured covariance structure was calculated. Results. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 20.3±5.2 mmHg with 2.4±1.0 medications. One year postoperatively, the mean IOP was 15.3±3.3 mmHg (P=0.004, paired t-test) with 0.6±1.0 medications. A postoperative IOP of ≤21 mmHg without medication was achieved in 17 of 19 eyes (89.5%) and in 12/19 eyes (63.2%) at 3 and 12 months after surgery, respectively. In the remaining eyes (10.5% at 3 months and 36.8% at 12 months), additional medication led to an IOP ≤21 mmHg or the target pressure. No case required further glaucoma surgery. In one eye, conversion of the surgery to trabeculectomy was necessary due to Descemet’s window rupture. Conclusions. With goniosynechiolysis ab interno, effective and safe nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery is possible in presence of PAS

Anterior Chamber Angle in Adults Born Extremely, Very, and Moderately Preterm with and without Retinopathy of Prematurity&mdash;Results of the Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study

Purpose: To determine whether prematurity and associated factors affect the anterior chamber angle (ACA) width in adulthood. Methods: The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study (GPES) is a retrospective cohort study with a prospective ophthalmologic examination of adults (age 18&ndash;52 years) in Germany. All participants were examined with Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Optikger&auml;te GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) using linear regression analysis to assess the associations of ACA in the different sectors with gestational age (GA), birth weight, birth weight percentile, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), ROP treatment, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, and breastfeeding. Results: In total, 516 eyes of 319 preterm and full-term individuals (aged 28.9 &plusmn; 8.8 years, 188 females) were examined. ROP treatment was associated with smaller ACA width in the nasal (B = &minus;9.6 [95%CI: &minus;14.7; &minus;4.5] degree; p &lt; 0.001) and temporal positions (B = &minus;11.5 [95%CI: &minus;17.7; &minus;5.3] degree; p = 0.001), whereas non-treated individuals with ROP had an unaltered ACA width, as did individuals with low gestational age without ROP. Conclusion: Advanced stages of ROP following treatment with laser- and cryocoagulation lead to a smaller ACA width until adulthood, and hence may increase the risk of angle closure in later life