Revised 24-01-08, Eva Larsson
Project leader
Eva Larsson, MD, PhD, Associate professor ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Specialist ophthalmology
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ContactOphthalmology Email: Elisabet.Granstam@uu.se |
Research focus
- Pediatric ophthalmology
Research in paediatric ophthalmology
When the newborn baby opens the eyes for the first time the visual perception
in the newborn is different from that in an adult. The newborn babe learns how
to see during the first 12 years of life. Disturbances in the eyes, transfer of
the visual information from the eye to the brain or in the brain may block
development of high resolution perception causing squinting. Common causes are
refractive error or inability to merge information from both eyes to one image
perceived. Our research is particularly focused on developement of the visual
system in pre-maturely born babies.
Collaborators:
Uwe Ewald, MD, PhD, Prof Neonatology
Bo Strömberg, MD, PhD, Assoc Prof Paediatric Neurology
Katarina Strand-Brodd, MD, Neonatologist
Claes von Hofsten, Prof, Dept of psychology
Kerstin Rosander, researcher, Dept of psychology
In some children components of the skull stop to enlarge correctly during
development, a condition called craniosynostosis causing a malformation of the
skull. The condition may be surgically treated. Our research is particularly
focused on developement of the visual system in children craniosynothosis.
Collaborators:
Associate Professor Daniel Nowinski, Plastic and maxiillo.facial surgery, Dept.
of Surgical sciences, Uppsala university, Uppsala
Members
Gerd Holmström, MD, PhD, Prof e.m. Ophthalmology, head of research group
Presentation
Our group also collaborates with other paediatric ophthalmologists and
paediatricians in Uppsala and in other university hospitals as well as in other
hospitals in Sweden, international paediatric ophthalmologists, geneticists
(Prof G Anneren and his team, Uppsala) and dentist.
The major field of research concerns ophthalmologic findings and visual
functions in prematurely-born children. During the last two decades
population-based studies on the incidence and risk factors of ROP have been
performed and extensive prospective follow-up studies on various visual
functions have been undertaken. Various other paediatric ophthalmology studies
have been performed on children with haemangioma, x-linked retinoschisis, Downs
syndrome, incontinentia pigmentii, neurofibromatosis type II etc.
Ongoing projects:
1. A prospective, population-based, multidisciplinary study on the development
of visual perception in infants born very preterm and the relation to cerebral
injury was started Jan 2004, with the aim to find predictive methods for early
detection of deficiencies. 100 infants will be collected in Uppsala County
during 4 years and be followed up to the age of five years. The project is a
collaboration with neonatologists, paediatric neurologist and psychologists. K
Strand-Brodd is PhD student. The first preliminary results were presented at
ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) Florida May 2006 and
a Paediatric Research Congress in San Franscisco, May 2006. This study will
hopefully lead to early detection, possibly prevention and hopefully early
intervention of future visual perceptual difficulties.
2. In collaboration with neonatologists and obstetricians, a national study is
undertaken on all preterm infants in Sweden born before the 27th week of
gestation during three years (2004-2007). The aim is to evaluate neonatal
mortality and morbidity and also their outcome at 2,5 years. GH is responsible
for the organization and logistics of the ophthalmologic part of this national
project, which includes two parts: eye screening in the neonatal period and a
follow-up at 2,5 years. Dordi Austeng is PhD student of the project.
3. A national register for retinal disease (ROP) in prematurely born infants
with GH as register holder. The register (SWEDROP) has a national steering
group, it is web based and started collecting national data in Sept 2006 with
the aim to include the whole country. We have a close collaboration with a
perinatal register (PNQ), which will enable us to relate ROP data to neonatal
findings. This is the first national register for ROP worldwide and will provide
unique data on the incidence, natural history and risk factors of ROP, as well
as indications and methods of treatment for ROP.
4. Evaluation of retinal function in children born at term and preterm. Our
previous studies have revealed subnormal visual function in prematurely-born
children. With the help of imaging techniques such as OCT (Ocular coherence
tomography), we want to evaluate the retinal nerve fibre layer. Our group has
previously reported on OCT findings in children with x-linked retinoschizis
(Eriksson et al Acta Ophth 2004).
5. Other projects:
Long-term ophthalmological follow-up of children with MMC (myelomeningo cele).
Eye manifestations in various syndromes (in collaboration with Prof G Anneren,
Dep Clin Genetics, Uppsala).
Eye manifestations in children with metabolic diseases (in collaboration with
paediatric ophthalmologist and paediatricians Uppsala (Maria Stenlid-Halldin)
and Stockholm).