Elucidating Perifoveal Vasculature Development in Infants Using Handheld OCT with Angiography

What this Trial Is About

Retinopathy of prematurity is a major cause of childhood blindness worldwide, affecting the development of blood vessels around the fovea, a key area in the retina responsible for sharp vision. This research aims to improve understanding of how these retinal blood vessels form in infants and how they may change due to preterm birth or retinopathy of prematurity. The study focuses on infants undergoing screening for this condition to gain insights into normal and abnormal vascular development. Participants in this observational study will undergo imaging using handheld Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) with OCT Angiography (OCTA), a non-invasive method that captures detailed images of the retina and its blood vessels without disturbing the infant. The study will include a cohort of 16 preterm infants who will have several visits in the Intensive Care Nursery between 32 and 43 weeks post menstrual age during their routine retinopathy of prematurity screening exams. Each visit will include ocular examinations, retinal imaging, medical and eye history collection, and documentation of any adverse events. During the study, researchers will measure changes in the density and network length of different layers of retinal blood vessels as well as the size of avascular zones, all within the hospitalization period. These assessments will help track the development of retinal vasculature in infants. The total participation period aligns with the infants' hospital stay during which regular evaluations will take place to ensure safety and gather comprehensive data on retinal blood vessel formation.

Imaging Retinal Vasculature in Infant Eyes