Sains Malaysiana 39(5)(2010): 859–862

Refractive and Biometric Status of Children Born Premature Without Retinopathy of Prematurity

(Status Refraksi dan Biometri Kanak-Kanak Dilahirkan Pramatang Tanpa Retinopati Pramatang)

Sharanjeet-Kaur*, Norlaila Mat Daud

Department of Optometry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Chung Kah Meng

2-G-45, Ground Floor, Wisma Rampai, Jalan 34/26, Rampai Town Centre

53300 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Azrin E. Ariffin

Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine

International University College of Technology Twintech

Wisma Twintech Persiaran Dagang 52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Boo Nemyun & Ong Lai Choo

Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 22 June 2009 / Accepted: 23 February 2010

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the refractive and biometric status of premature children without Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and full term children. Fifty eight children between the ages of 3 and 7 years (32 children born premature without ROP and another 26 children born full term and normal) were examined. Refractive error, corneal curvature, axial length, anterior chamber depth and crystalline lens thickness were determined. The results revealed that children between the age of 3 years and 7 years were emmetropic, irrespective of whether they were born premature without ROP or full term. However, children born premature without ROP had significantly steeper corneas (t = 3.14, p = 0.0349), shorter axial lengths (t = 3.18, p = 0.0313) and thicker crystalline lens (t = 3.31, p = 0.0256) compared to children born full term within the same age group. This study suggests that compensation in ocular parameters can occur to maintain emmetropia, mainly by adjustment of axial length and corneal curvature.

Keywords: Axial length; corneal curvature; crystalline lens thickness; premature without retinopathy of prematurity; refractive error

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian keratan rentas telah dijalankan untuk menentukan status refraksi dan biometri kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan pramatang tanpa Retinopati of Pramatang (ROP) dan kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan cukup matang. Seramai 58 kanak-kanak dengan umur antara 3 dan 7 tahun (32 kanak-kanak dilahirkan pramatang tanpa ROP dan 26 kanak-kanak dilahirkan cukup matang dan normal) telah diperiksa. Ralat refraksi, kelengkungan kornea, panjang aksial, kedalaman kamar anterior dan ketebalan kanta kristalin telah diukur. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan kanak-kanak antara umur 3 tahun dan 7 tahun adalah emetrop, walaupun dilahirkan pramatang tanpa ROP atau dilahirkan cukup matang. Walau bagaimanapun, kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan pramatang tanpa ROP mempunyai kornea yang lebih curam (t = 3.14, p = 0.0349), panjang aksial yang lebih pendek (t = 3.18, p = 0.0313) dan kanta kristalin yang lebih tebal (t = 3.31, p = 0.0256) secara statistik berbanding kanak-kanak yang dilahirkan cukup matang dalam kumpulan umur yang sama. Kajian ini mencadangkan kompensasi parameter okular berlaku untuk mengekalkan emetropia, terutamanya dengan ubahsuaian panjang aksial dan kelengkungan kornea.

Kata kunci: Kelengkungan kornea; ketebalan kanta habluran; panjang aksial; pramatang tanpa retionopati pramatang; ralat refraksi

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Corresponding author; email: sharan@medic.ukm.my