Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Ocular Therapeutic Delivery and Advanced Tissue Retrieval in Adult Rats
Published on: May 23, 2025
Pain management during retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations: a systematic review
Haifa A Samra1, Jacqueline M McGrath
1College of Nursing, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA. Haifa.samra@sdstate.edu
Insights
Pain management during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examinations is inadequate for preterm infants. Further research is needed to develop standard protocols for pain relief during ROP screening.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant concern for preterm infants.
- Early detection and treatment of ROP are crucial for preserving vision.
- Indirect ophthalmic examinations are necessary until infants are no longer at risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate evidence on pain management during ROP examinations.
- To assess the characteristics and effectiveness of interventions.
- To discuss implications for clinical practice and future research.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published evidence.
- Evaluation of pain management characteristics and effectiveness.
- Analysis of current ROP examination guidelines.
Main Results:
- ROP examinations are recognized as painful and causing discomfort.
- Current pain management during ROP examinations is inadequate.
- No standard protocols exist for pharmacological or nonpharmacological pain management.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for improved pain management strategies during ROP examinations.
- Further research is required to establish evidence-based protocols.
- Addressing infant needs during ROP screening is essential.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a concern for many preterm infants. Early detection and timely treatment have been shown to be effective in improving visual outcomes; moreover, it is crucial that a series of indirect ophthalmic examinations be performed until an infant is considered no longer at risk for the disease. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize and evaluate the published evidence regarding characteristics and effectiveness of pain management interventions during the ROP examination. Implications for practice are discussed and suggestions for further research are made. Despite the general consensus that ROP examination is a painful procedure with considerable amount of discomfort, evidence shows that pain management during the ROP examination is inadequate. Although there are currently clear recommendations and guidelines for performing the ROP examination, there are no standard protocols for pharmacological and nonpharmacological pain management during the ROP examination. This is an area where much work is still needed to address the needs of the infant during this critical examination.
