FUNDUS MORPHOLOGY ASSESSED BY DIGITAL - IMAGE-ANALYSIS IN CHILDREN WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is associated with anomalies of the eye ground. The aim of this study was to evaluate the developme nt of fundus morphology in children with FAS from early childhood to a dolescence. Methods: Fundus photographs were evaluated by digital imag e analysis in 16 children with FAS. Age at the baseline study was betw een 0.25 and 14 years, and the median follow-up period was 7 years (ra nge: 0.5 to 12). Sixteen sex- and age-matched healthy children were us ed as controls. Results: Children with FAS had a smaller optic disc ar ea, lower frequency of excavations, greater tortuosity of retinal vess els, and a smaller number of vascular branching points compared with t he controls. There were no significant differences in the fundus abnor malities between the first and last examinations. Conclusion: No inter val change of retinal fundus morphology was found at follow up, sugges ting that the ocular abnormalities associated with FAS remain unchange d during childhood.