The temporal retinal vessel angle and infants born preterm

Aim: To determine the temporal retinal vessel angle in babies and its relation to preterm birth. Methods: Digital images were obtained during routine screening for retinopathy of prematurity ( ROP). The temporal retinal vessel angle was measured in 164 eyes of 82 babies born "very preterm'' ( 24 - 27 weeks gestational age ( GA)), "preterm'' ( 28 - 31 weeks GA), and "near term'' (>= 32 weeks GA). Results: Mean temporal vessel angle ( TVA) for all three GA groups together is 80.0 degrees ( SD 17.0 degrees) for the right eye and 80.5 degrees ( 16.7 degrees) for the left eye. The range is right eye 59 - 106 degrees, left eye 69 - 97 degrees, with 95% data above 67 degrees for the right and 63 degrees for the left eye. For babies born near term, TVA is 82 degrees in each eye. There is a high degree of interocular symmetry between right and left eyes and a statistically insignificant trend for increasing TVA with increasing GA. The presence and stage of ROP affected one parameter of the left eye alone. Conclusions: These data provide normative data on the TVA in babies and will facilitate, especially if there is interocular asymmetry, determining whether there is macular displacement.