%0 Journal Article
%T What Is Left After Resolution of Neonatal Retinal Hemorrhage: The Longitudinal Long-term Outcome in Foveal Structure and Visual Function.
%A Sun L
%A Jiang Z
%A Li S
%A Liu J
%A Su M
%A Lu Y
%A Li Z
%A Ding X
%J Am J Ophthalmol
%V 226
%N 0
%D 06 2021
%M 33556380
%F 5.488
%R 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.01.028
%X Neonatal retinal hemorrhage (NRH) is one of the most common neonatal fundus conditions. Hemorrhage resolves spontaneously; however, its long-term outcome is unknown yet. The current study explores the long-term role of NRH in foveal structure and visual function.
Cohort study (a prospective longitudinal study, in which the participants were followed up for 4-6 years).
A total of 125 healthy newborns during 2013-2015, including 50 newborns with NRH and 75 newborns without NRH, were enrolled. The eyes with NRH were further categorized into the foveal hemorrhage (FH) group and non-FH group. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, slit-lamp examination, refractive error measurement, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and spectral-domain OCT was performed. Total retinal thickness (TRT) and the inner and outer retinal layers in the fovea were measured and compared.
The NRH was absorbed within 2.1 ± 0.98 weeks (median: 3 weeks). No difference was noted in the demographic characteristics between the groups; there was no significant difference in the logMAR BCVA (P = .83) or in the TRT. Subgroup analysis showed that TRT at the fovea in the FH group was significantly thicker (P = .005). Segmentation analysis showed a significantly thicker foveal outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the FH group (P = .017).
Birth-related retinal hemorrhage, even FH, might not lead to obvious visual abnormalities at the age of 4 years, at least according to this study with relatively small sample size. However, a thicker fovea, mainly attributed to a wider ONL and a shallower foveal pit, is noted in our study.