Optical coherence tomography of the preterm eye: from retinopathy of prematurity to brain development

Abstract

Adam L Rothman,1,2 Shwetha Mangalesh,1 Xi Chen,1 Cynthia A Toth1,3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Cone Health, Greensboro, 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Abstract: Preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity are at increased risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Because the neurosensory retina is an extension of the central nervous system, anatomic abnormalities in the anterior visual pathway often relate to system and central nervous system health. We describe optical coherence tomography as a powerful imaging modality that has recently been adapted to the infant population and provides noninvasive, high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging of the infant eye at the bedside. Optical coherence tomography has increased understanding of normal eye development and has identified several potential biomarkers of brain abnormalities and poorer neurodevelopment. Keywords: preterm infant, optical coherence tomography, neurosensory retina, biomarkers, retinopathy, brain development

Keywords

• optical coherence tomography
• retinopathy of prematurity
• infant
• eye
• brain
• neurodevelopment