Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in terms of birth weight in prematurely born children

Abstract

Purpose: To study the potential effects of both prematurity and the sub-groups of low birth weight on thickness of RNFL. Methods: Prospective case series of 26 preterm school-aged children with low birth weight whose retinal nerve fiber layer analyses with RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optic coherence tomography were performed in 2013 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Erzurum Region Education and Training Hospital. Results: The mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses were 100.6 +/- 13.3 microns in extremely low birth weight, 103.9 +/- 8.4 microns in very low birth weight, and 104.1 +/- 10.8 microns in low birth weight groups. There was no significant difference in RNFL among the groups. Conclusions: No significant relationship was found between birth weights and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of preterm children who were appropriate for gestational age.