Brief plain language background
The retina is the specialised light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, which develops from the back to the front of the eye. The development of blood vessels follow the path of retinal cells to supply oxygen and nutrients, which can be halted when a premature baby is administered oxygen to survive.
As the baby grows, blood vessels start growing again, which can occur haphazardly and end with blinding scarring, known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) – the main cause of blindness in newborns.
What problem/knowledge gap does it help address
Babies born prematurely require screening to identify those needing treatment to prevent blindness. Current screening involves an invasive series of eye examinations that babies can find distressing and is reliant on a highly skilled workforce of paediatric ophthalmologists.
The mechanisms of ROP are only partially understood, with growth factors thought to play a role. These are usually released by proteins and stimulate cell activity. A change in growth factor concentration or other proteins could therefore contribute to sight loss in ROP and be a potential target for less invasive screening.
Aim of the research project
To investigate tear proteins of premature babies to identify biomarkers for treatment-warranted ROP.
Key procedures/Objectives (in laymen terms)
- Collect tear samples from a group of premature babies.
- Identify relevant proteins and any relationship between concentration and ROP disease stage.
- Take electroretinogram (ERG) recordings – a test that measures the retinal response to light – to show the developmental stage of the retina.
- Carry out statistical analyses using the ERGs, tear proteins, clinical information and any stage of ROP determined by standard eye examination.
Potential impact on people with sight loss
Gaining insight into the disease process of ROP – and identifying potential biomarkers for the condition – could allow for earlier and more effective diagnosis and intervention. The findings could inform the development of a lateral flow test for ROP risk, which is both less invasive than current treatments and does not require highly trained staff to carry out the screening.