OCULAR GROWTH IN THE FETUS .1. COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF AXIAL LENGTH AND BIOMETRIC PARAMETERS IN THE FETUS

The knowledge of ocular growth during fetal life, when compared with o ther fetal biometric parameters, could not only provide a better defin ition of malformation syndromes but could also give a better understan ding of certain pathological processes in premature babies and in newb orns. As the literature concerning prenatal ocular dimensions contains few data, the aim of this study was to measure the axial length of th e globe (AL) in fetuses and compare this measurement with their gestat ional age, weight, height, head circumference (HC) and thoracic circum ference (TC) in order to compile a reference table. In the present stu dy, 76 globes from 38 fetuses (18-41 weeks gestational age) from the D epartment of Pathology (Timone University Hospital, Marseille) were ex amined. Ultrasonography A and B were used to measure the AL, and a pat hological examination determined fetal weight, HC, TC and height. We w ere interested to find out which of the parameters studied would give the best correlation with ocular growth. Statistical analysis showed t hat HC remained the most discriminant factor and correlated best with ocular growth. We thus obtained an equation for ocular size according to HC that could serve as a basis for detecting pre- or postnatal ocul ar defects.