Effect of macular edema in the premature period on refraction in infants screened and treated for retinopathy of prematurity

Background: To determine the effect of macular edema on refraction in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at the ages of one, two and three years using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Methods: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed to detect and categorize edema in 280 eyes of 280 premature infants. The cross-sectional spectral domain OCT imaging of the macular region was performed be-tween weeks 36 and 42 to assess macular development. Refraction measurement was performed during follow-up at the ages of one, two and three years. Macular thickness, choroidal thickness, macular edema severity, and the spherical, cylindrical and spherical equivalent (SE) values were measured. Results: A positive correlation was found between macular thickness in the premature period and the SE value at age one and a negative correlation at age three. No correlation was found between gestational age and the SE value, but there was a positive correlation between birth weight and the SE value at ages one and two. Although no correlation was determined between edema and gestational age or between edema and birth weight, the prevalence of macular edema in infants with ROP was significantly higher than that of infants without this disease. Conclusions: Macular edema during the premature period can have an impact on refraction at the ages one, two and three years by effecting the emmetropization process.