Long-Term outcomes in Retinopathy Of Prematurity (LT-ROP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comprehensive assessment of long-term eye problems in adults with a history of retinopathy of prematurity.
IRAS ID
261028
Contact name
Francesca Cordeiro
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
RFPrD1920_106, Imperial Health Charity Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 8 days
Research summary
Infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are at greater risk of having eye problems in childhood compared to the normal population, but few studies have estimated this risk in adulthood. ROP is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness worldwide and affects extremely small, premature infants. Its importance has grown as the numbers of premature infants have risen worldwide and, due to improving standards of neonatal care, are surviving into adulthood. Patients with ROP have been found to have changes in the eye, like thinning of the retinal and choroid layers that are consistent with adult eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Glaucoma has been identified as an important cause of poor vision in children with ROP however few studies have investigated their risk of developing this nor other similar debilitating eye diseases in adulthood with detailed measures showing their progression to disease. The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of the risk of adult-onset eye diseases in premature infants treated for ROP. We hypothesise that structural changes in the eye either associated with, or as a consequence of ROP will increase the risk of adult-onset eye diseases. It may therefore be important and cost-effective to monitor these patients long-term to prevent further damage to the eye.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0065
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion