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Retinopathy of prematurity: review of a five-year period, examination techniques and recommendations for screening
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects over 17% of premature infants. Severe ROP, linked to lower birth weight and shorter gestation, requires vigilant screening and examination techniques for early detection and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Public Health
Background:
- A resurgence in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) necessitates updated prevalence data.
- Premature infants, particularly those with very-low-birthweight, are at high risk for ROP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity in very-low-birthweight infants at Christchurch Women's Hospital over a five-year period.
- To identify risk factors associated with severe or blinding ROP.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of ocular screening data for very-low-birthweight infants over five years.
- Calculation of ROP prevalence among all surviving very-low-birthweight infants and those referred for screening.
- Comparison of birthweight and gestational age between infants with and without retinopathy.
Main Results:
- Retinopathy was detected in 17.1% of all surviving very-low-birthweight infants (22/129).
- Among infants referred for screening, 34% (22/65) had retinopathy.
- Five infants presented with severe or blinding ROP, significantly associated with lower birthweight and shorter gestation.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a significant prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity in this cohort.
- Lower birthweight and shorter gestation are critical risk factors for severe ROP.
- Recommendations for optimized screening protocols and examination techniques are proposed.
Abstract:
The reported resurgence of retinopathy of prematurity prompted analysis of the prevalence of retinopathy among premature infants born at Christchurch Women's Hospital over a five-year period. Of the 129 surviving very-low-birthweight infants, 65 (50.4%) underwent ocular screening during the review period. Retinopathy was detected in 17.1% (22/129) of surviving infants, or 34% (22/65) of selected infants referred by paediatricians for ocular screening. Five infants had severe or blinding retinopathy and these premature infants were of significantly lower birthweight and born after shorter gestation periods than those found to have no retinopathy. Examination techniques for eyes of premature infants are discussed, and recommendations for screening for retinopathy of prematurity made.
