The rim area of the optic nerve head, assessed with Heidelberg retina tomography, is smaller in prematurely born children than in children born at term.

Reduced rim area of the optic nerve head was found in preterm children of school age. Previous ROP or neurological complication did not influence the result, suggesting the preterm birth per se was the reason for the reduction. Establishing whether this finding was caused by disturbed maturation of the optic nerve or by injury of the axons, or a combination of the two, will require further research.