Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026
Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Systemic adverse events after screening of retinopathy of prematurity with mydriatic
Shumpei Obata1, Taku Imamura1, Masashi Kakinoki1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening using mydriatic eye drops may cause adverse systemic effects in infants, including increased abdominal distention and decreased milk intake. Careful monitoring post-ROP screening is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Ophthalmic mydriatics are commonly used for ROP screening, but their systemic effects are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate potential systemic adverse events following ROP screening using mydriatic eye drops.
- To assess changes in infant physiological parameters and feeding behaviors after mydriatic instillation for ROP examination.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of 86 infants undergoing ROP screening with phenylephrine and tropicamide.
- Systemic parameters (abdominal distention, milk intake, stool volume, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, apnea) were recorded before and after mydriatic eye drops.
- Correlation between infant body weight and abdominal distention was analyzed.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in abdominal distention score was observed post-ROP screening (p=0.005).
- Lower infant body weight was correlated with higher abdominal distention scores (p<0.0001).
- Increased instances of reduced milk consumption (p=0.0001) and decreased pulse rate (p=0.0008) were noted after screening.
Conclusions:
- Mydriatic eye drops used for ROP screening may be associated with adverse systemic effects in infants.
- Close monitoring of infants for systemic changes after ROP screening is crucial.
Purpose:
To evaluate systemic adverse events after screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) performed with mydriatic.
Methods:
This was a retrospective case series study. Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent screening for ROP with 0.5% phenylephrine and 0.5% tropicamide eyedrops were retrospectively reviewed. The score of abdominal distention (0-5), volume of milk sucked and volume of stool, along with systemic details (pulse and respiration rates, blood pressure and number of periods of apnea) were collected at 1 week and 1 day before ROP examination, and at 1 day after examination. Results were compared between the days before and after examination. Correlation between body weight at the time of examination and the score of abdominal distention was examined. The numbers of infants with abdominal and/or systemic adverse events were compared between pre- and post-examination periods.
Results:
Eighty-six infants met the inclusion criteria. The score of abdominal distention increased from 2.0 at 1 day before examination to 2.3 at 1 day after examination (p = 0.005), and the number of infants who had worsened abdominal distension increased after examination (p = 0.01). Infants with lower body weight had a higher score of abdominal distention (p < 0.0001, r = -0.57). The number of infants with reduced milk consumption increased after examination (p = 0.0001), as did the number of infants with decreased pulse rate (p = 0.0008).
Conclusions:
Screening for ROP with mydriatic may have adverse effects on systemic conditions. Infants should be carefully monitored after ROP screening with mydriatic.
