The rates of most adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in preterm pregnancies with severe hypertension delivered at 26 to 34 weeks are not affected by timing from steroid administration to delivery. These data support the decision for delivery based mainly on obstetrical indications.

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Aims and Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of drusen and pigmentary changes in a middle-aged population. Methods Retinal images from 500 individuals aged 18-54 years were included. The source of participants was two UK optometry practices. Retinal images were graded using the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. However, owing to the relatively young age of the population studied, a new category of drusen of smaller size (o31.5 mm) was introduced. Results Drusen were identified within the central macular grid in 91.48% of all gradable eyes and in 444 subjects. Drusen sized o31.5 mm were present in 89.7% of eyes, drusen sized 431.5 mm and o63 mm were present in 45.9% of all eyes and drusen 463 mm and o125 mm were present in only 1.7% of eyes. No eye had drusen larger or equal to 125 mm. Very few eyes (1.2%) showed pigmentary changes within the grid. Drusen load increased with increasing age, P o0.001. Conclusions The frequency of drusen in a younger Caucasian population aged 18-54 years is high, with 91.48% of all gradable eyes having drusen. The most frequent drusen subtype was hard distinct drusen o31.5 mm. No druse greater or equal in size to 125 mm was seen. Pigmentary changes are rare.

One dose of antenatal steroids given 4-24 h before delivery was clinically comparable to the recommended schedule of the National Institutes of Health in surfactant-treated preterm infants. Should the findings of this study be confirmed in randomized controlled trials, the dosage regimen could be simplified, steroid administration reduced and the interval from delivery reduced in acute clinical conditions.

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