Myopia in patients with Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Objectives: to describe the behavior of the myopic defect up to one year of life, in patients who developed retinopathy of prematurity, and to determine the main risk factors for it. 

Method: a descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study was carried out in 37 patients who, having been treated for retinopathy of prematurity or not, maintained a stable follow-up in consultation after the acute phase of the disease. They were evaluated at 6 and 12 months of life taking into account the variables gestational age at birth, birth weight, type of retinopathy of prematurity, presence of myopia. 

Results: Median gestational age and birth weight were 30.2 weeks and 1287g. At 6 months, 5 eyes of 27 patients (considering only the right eyes) presented myopia, which represents 18.5%. At 12 months this value increased to 44.4%. Gestational age and birth weight were not related to the development of myopia (p = 0.072) and p = 0.397) at 12 months. In patients with severe retinopathy of prematurity, myopic defect was more frequent (p = 0.003). 

Conclusions: prematurity and birth weight were not variables that influenced the appearance of myopia. On the contrary, severe retinopathy of prematurity was associated with greater myopia, especially at 12 months.