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Retinopathy of prematurity in the United Kingdom
Y K Ng1, A R Fielder, M I Levene
1Department of Ophthalmology, Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a concern for preterm infants. Acute ROP onset occurs within a specific postmenstrual age range, indicating a critical developmental stage for retinal vasculature.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Previous ROP surveys in the UK were conducted in the early 1950s.
- Changes in infant populations and examination methods necessitate updated ROP data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the age of onset for acute retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- To review changes in the premature infant population since the 1950s.
- To evaluate current ophthalmological examination methods for ROP.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data analysis.
- Prospective survey of ROP in the East Midlands.
- Ophthalmological examinations to identify ROP signs.
Main Results:
- Ophthalmoscopically visible signs of ROP appear within a narrow postmenstrual age range.
- Acute ROP onset is linked to specific retinal and vascular development stages.
Conclusions:
- Acute retinopathy of prematurity onset is developmentally timed.
- Further research into specific developmental triggers for ROP is warranted.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) continues to be a problem for some preterm infants who survive the neonatal period. We review changes which have occurred in the premature infant population and methods of ophthalmological examination since the last survey of ROP in the United Kingdom was conducted between 1951 and 1953. We have analysed data from a retrospective study, and from our current prospective survey of ROP in the East Midlands, to determine the age at onset of acute ROP. The results show that the ophthalmoscopically visible signs of ROP develop over a narrow postmenstrual age range suggesting that acute ROP occurs only after the retina and/or its vasculature have reached a certain stage of development.