Iris fluorescein angiography in the diagnostics of active retinopathy of prematurity

Purpose. To study the feature of the condition of the vessels of the iris according to fluorescence iris fluorescein angiography in various forms, stages and types of the course of active retinopathy of prematurity. Material and methods. Fluorescence iris fluorescein angiography was performed in 25 eyes (15 children). Children were born at 25–31 weeks of gestation. Children's weights were 680–1550 g. Children were 7–11 weeks old. 4 children (7 eyes) had a favorable type of course of 1–2 stages. 7 children (12 eyes) had an unfavorable type of course of 2–3 stages. 4 children (6 eyes) had aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity. The study was also performed on 5 premature babies without signs of retinopathy of prematurity who had been born at 30–31 weeks of gestation, weighing 1000–1900 g, at the age of 5–10 weeks. Analysis of the obtained angiograms was performed using descriptive and temporal characteristics. Results. Depending on the stage of the disease, various structural changes in the vascular system of the iris were revealed in prematurity: expansion and increased tortuosity of the vessels; their pathological course; increased permeability or desolation of the capillary bed of the pupil zone; uneven filling of the arterioles of the ciliary zone; newly formed vessels in the pupil in the form of a network shunts; the phenomena of pronounced hyperfluorescence. It was determined that changes in the vascular system in the iris developed in parallel with disorders of the retinal angioarchitectonics. These changes are essentially identical, but less distinct in the iris due to differences in the anatomical structure and angioarchitectonics of the iris and retina of the eye. Conclusion. Further studies are required being used fluorescence iris fluorescein angiography in children with retinopathy of prematurity with using of large quantities of clinical material to obtain new information about vascular changes in the anterior segment of the eye, since this problem is still unexplored. Key words: iris fluorescein angiography, retinopathy of prematurity.