Ocular Growth and Refractive Error Development in Premature Infants with or without Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Eyes of premature infants have shorter axial lengths, shallower anterior chambers, and more highly curved corneas than eyes of full-term infants. These differences become more significant as the severity of ROP increases. Premature eyes develop less of the expected hypermetropia in full-term eyes, mainly due to differences in ACD and corneal curvature. These differences are most significant in eyes that receive laser treatment for ROP.