Refractive status and optical components in premature babies with and without retinopathy of prematurity at 5 years old

Objective: This study aimed to explore the influence of premature birth and mild retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) on the refractive status and the development of ocular optical components. Methods: The preterm infants who received fundus screening were divided into ROP group and non-ROP group. In addition, age matched term infants were also recruited. Results: The incidence of myopia was the highest in ROP group (13.56%), followed by non-ROP group (5.32%) and control group (1.19%). The incidence of astigmatism was the highest in ROP group (40.68%), followed by non-ROP group (18.09%) and control group (8.33%). In ROP group and non-ROP group, the corneal astigmatism and mean astigmatism were significantly higher than in control group (P<0.05). In ROP group, the corneal refraction was significantly higher than in non-ROP group and control group (P<0.05). The corneal curvature in ROP was significantly larger than that in non-ROP group and control group (P<0.05). The axial length in ROP group and non-ROP group was significantly shorter than that in control group (P<0.05). The gestational age was negatively related to corneal astigmatism and astigmatism, but positively related to axial length (P<0.05). The birth weight was negatively related to corneal astigmatism, astigmatism, corneal refraction and corneal curvature, but positively to axial length and spherical equivalent (P<0.05). Conclusion: Preterm infants with or without ROP are more likely to develop myopia and astigmatism. And low birth weight, preterm birth and ROP act simultaneously to affect the development of ocular optical components, leading to the occurrence of myopia and astigmatism.