The Characteristics and Short-term Refractive Error Outcomes of Cystoid Macular Edema in Premature Neonates as Detected by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

OBJECTIVE

To explore characteristics associated with cystoid macular edema (CME) in neonates screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

In this institutional review board-approved, prospective, observational study, premature neonates underwent imaging with handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS

Of 73 included infants (median gestational age [GA]: 28 weeks, range 23-33 weeks; birth weight: 966 g, range 506 g-1695 g), 28 (38%) had CME and 17/28 (61%) had ROP. CME was associated with ROP (P=.03) and younger GA (P=.04), but not associated with sex, race, birth weight, postmenstrual age at imaging, ROP severity, or myopia at median 6 months corrected age. CME resolved in three cases after bevacizumab treatment for type 1 ROP and in five cases without treatment. CME appeared in two cases several weeks following injections.

CONCLUSIONS

CME was associated with ROP and younger GA, but not with myopia. Intravitreal bevacizumab for type 1 ROP has inconclusive effects on CME.