Evaluation of the prematurity retinopathy and other eye changes in the newborn

To assess the prevalence of ophthalmologic manifestations in newborns in a maternity hospital in the city of São Paulo, SP, and the main risk factors related with the development of retinopathy of prematurity.

A retrospective, longitudinal study with patients born from 2015 to 2017 who required ophthalmological evaluation. The research variables were obtained by analysis of the newborn medical charts.

A total of 773 patients were studied. The sample consisted of 288 examinations performed by indication of gestational age ≤32 weeks: 118 (42.4%) in 2015, 105 (42.2%) in 2016, 65 (26.4%) cases in 2017. There were 329 evaluations indicated due to birth weight: 113 (40.6%) in 2015, 108 (43.4%) in 2016, and 108 (43.9%) in 2017. The prevalence of associated risk factors was 97 (34.9%) cases in 2015, 96 (38.6%) in 2016, and 54 (22%) in 2017, followed by mechanical ventilation with 82 (29.5%) cases in 2015, 64 (25.7%) in 2016 and 41 (16.7%) in 2017, and continuous positive airway pressure with 59 (21.2%) cases in 2015, 72 (28.9%) in 2016, and 46 (18.7%) in 2017. For the other indications, the evaluations performed due to congenital syphilis were the majority in the 3-year period of the study, with 55 (19.8%) newborns in 2015, 54 (21.7%) in 2016, and 59 (24.0%) in 2017. The most prevalent ophthalmologic diagnosis was retinopathy of prematurity, with 79 (35.3%) cases in 2015, 64 (32.2%) in 2016, and 41 (24.1%) in 2017.

Most neonates born in the organization do not present risk factors for ophthalmological manifestations. Retinopathy of prematurity was the disease with greater strength of association found in our study. For the other indications, the evaluations performed due to congenital syphilis prevail in the 3- year period of the study.