Retinal Microanatomy in Retinopathy of Prematurity (BabySTEPS2)

This study, called BabySTEPS2, is looking at how a new handheld imaging system, called an investigational ultracompact OCT and OCTA system, compares to standard retinal photographs. This new system helps doctors see tiny details of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) in very premature babies. The goal is to find early signs of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a condition that can affect vision in premature infants. Researchers hope this new technology can better predict which babies might need ROP treatment or have vision or brain development problems later on. The study is currently unclear about its status and plans to include 236 participants. Success will be measured by visual acuity (how well someone sees), visual function, and neurodevelopmental scores in children at ages 2, 4.75, and 5 years old. Only children who were part of a previous study (BabySTEPS1) and whose parents agree can join.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 236 participants. It compares an investigational ultracompact OCT and OCTA system with retinal photographs.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants in Cohort 1 will have visual acuity measured at a 5-year study visit, visual function at a 4.75-year study visit, and neurodevelopmental scores at a 2-year study visit.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04995341

Retinal Microanatomy in Retinopathy of Prematurity (BabySTEPS2)

Recruiting
NAAll AgesInterventional
Duke University
~236 participants
Updated 2026-05-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Investigational ultracompact OCT and OCTA systemretinal photographs

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Optotype Visual acuity scores (Cohort 1 only)
Measured over 5-year study visit
+9 more outcomes measured
Retinopathy of Prematurity

NCT04995341

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 2 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Duke University Eye Center

    Durham, North Carolinastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • University of Pennsylvania, Center for Preventive Ophthalmology and Biostatistics

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Cynthia A Toth, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Duke University Eye Center

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Children previously enrolled in BabySTEPS1 (Pro00069721) that have already consented to being contacted for this school age follow on study, Cohort 1 only
Parent/Legal Guardian is able and willing to consent to study participation with follow up approximately between 4.5 and 5 years of age (consent available in Spanish\* and English) (SA 1 only)
Parent/Legal Guardian is able and willing to consent to study participation for the infant (SA 2 and 2c only)
Infant/child undergoing clinically-indicated examination under anesthesia that may or may not have eye pathology (SA 2 only)
Infant inborn or outborn at (SA 2 only):
Duke Hospital (Years 1, 2 and 3) with birth weight ≤1000 grams, and/or 20 0/7 to 28/ 6/7 (\<29 weeks) gestational age
Duke Hospital (Years 1, 2 and 3) at high risk to require treatment for ROP irrespective of birth weight and gestational age (e.g. pre-plus, severe ROP in zone 1, APROP, etc.)
Duke Regional Hospital (Years 4 and 5) that meets the American Association of Pediatrics eligibility of ROP screening (Infants with a birth weight of ≤1500 g or gestational age of 30 weeks)
Adults (over the age of 18 years) that may or may not have eye pathology (SA 2 only)

Exclusion

Participant or Parent/Legal Guardian unwilling or unable to provide consent
Adult participant or infant/child has a health or eye condition that preclude eye examination or retinal imaging (e.g. corneal opacity such as with Peter's anomaly or cataract) (SA2 only)
Infant has a health condition, other than prematurity, that has a profound impact on brain development (e.g. anencephaly) (SA2 only)
  • Optotype Visual acuity scores (Cohort 1 only)5-year study visit

    HOTV visual acuity at the 5-year study visit. Visual acuity is recorded as the last line of the HOTV chart on which over 50% of the 4 symbols are identified correctly identified by the participant. If the participant is not capable of performing HOTV, then Teller cards will be used for preferential-looking visual acuity assessment. With Teller, acuity is determined by the smallest cycles per degree.

  • Visual function scores (Cohort 1 only)4.75-year study visit

    Visual function at the 4.75-year visit is measured by the presence or absence of strabismus, nystagmus, and amblyopia

  • Neurodevelopmental scores at 2-year study visit (Cohort 1 only)2-year study visit

    Neurodevelopmental testing at the 2-year neurodevelopment study visit: a) Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development: Scores motor skills with the standardized mean motor score of 100; less than 85 indicates mild impairment; less than 70 indicates moderate to severe impairment.

  • Retinal thickness at the fovea and surrounding optic nerve as measured by OCT reading (Cohort 1-3)Up to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Retinal thickness (microns) at the fovea and surrounding optic nerve.

  • Microanatomy as measured by OCT readingUp to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Combination of presence and severity of: retinal vessel tortuosity, vascular abnormality score by OCT (VASO), aggressive ROP, extra retinal neovascularization, vitreous abnormalities, shunt vessels, retinoschisis and retinal detachment.

  • Microanatomy as measured by retinal photo reading (Cohort 3 only)Up 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Combination of presence and severity of retinal vessel tortuosity, aggressive ROP, extra retinal neovascularization, shunt vessels, vitreous opacities, vitreous haze, retinoschisis and retinal detachment.

  • Microanatomy as measured by clinical exam (Cohort 1-3)Up to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Clinical determination of combination presence and severity of retinal vessel tortuosity, aggressive ROP, extra retinal neovascularization, shunt vessels, vitreous opacities, vitreous haze, retinoschisis and retinal detachment.

  • Measurement of stress of imaging (Cohort 3 only)Up to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Assessment of stress and discomfort using modified CRIES score (crying 0-4; facial expression 0-2; heart rate beats per minute; change in respiratory support) during each eye imaging and compared to baseline pre-imaging score adverse events recorded during imaging (bradycardia, tachycardia, desaturation, emesis, and ocular adverse events e.g. conjunctival hemorrhage)

  • Assessment of ease of imaging (Cohort 3 only)Up to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Based on Likert scales (1-5)

  • ROP vascular severity score (Cohort 3 only)Up to 42 weeks post-menstrual age

    Based on a combination of relative retinal vessel tortuosity score, extraretinal neovascularization and aggressive ROP.