Authors:	Fieß, Achim Berger, Lina Amalia Riedl, Jana C. Mildenberger, Eva Urschitz, Michael S. Hampel, Ulrike Wasielica-Poslednik, Joanna Zepp, Fred Stoffelns, Bernahrd Pfeiffer, Norbert Schuster, Alexander K.
Title:	The role of preterm birth, retinopathy of prematurity and perinatal factors on corneal aberrations in adulthood : results from the Gutenberg prematurity eye study
Online publication date:	18-Jan-2023
Year of first publication:	2022
Language:	english
Abstract:	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.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8582
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY-NC
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Journal:	Ophthalmic and physiological optics 42 6
Pages or article number:	1379 1389
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher place:	Oxford u.a
Issue date:	2022
ISSN:	1475-1313
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/opo.13038
Appears in collections:	DFG-491381577-H