[Prevalence of premature retinopathy. 12-year detection in hospital "20 de Noviembre"]

We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of premature retinopathy in a third level care hospital.

We carried out a descriptive, observational, longitudinal and prospective study from March 1991 to February 2004, including newborns with low birthweight of <1500 g and <35 weeks of gestation, evaluating the peripheral retina under pharmacological midryasis weekly during 4 weeks starting the 4th week of extrauterine life. The ROP international classification was used.

Within our 12-year study, 2558 children were born, 62% were full term and 38% were premature. From 735 live premature births, 170 fulfilled inclusion criteria: 42% (72) did not present changes regarding retinopathy with a prevalence of 9.79, 46% (78) were in stages I-III with a prevalence of 10.61, and 12% (20) were in umbral stage with a prevalence of 2.72%.

The prevalence of premature retinopathy in a third level hospital was 10.61% in stages I-III and 2.72% in umbral stage. This has allowed the evaluation of the peripheral retinal and the ability to plan treatment in the umbral stage to prevent future complications of blindness from disease progression in these cases.