Shen LL, Mangalesh S, McGeehan B, et al. - Researchers conducted this prospective observational study to evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in preterm infants. Using a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system at the bedside, they imaged 83 awake infants (159 eyes) at 36 ± 1 weeks postmenstrual age. They correlated RNFL thickness and 7 characteristics of interest (gender, race, ethnicity, gestational age, birth weight, stage of retinopathy of prematurity, and presence of pre-plus or plus disease) through univariable and multivariable regressions. In the right, the RNFL was 3.4 um thicker than the left eyes. Birth weight is an important independent predictor of RNFL thickness near birth, suggesting that intrauterine processes affecting birth weight affect the retinal ganglion cells reserve.