Status of screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study determined the status of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at a university hospital and correlated birth weight (BW) and age of gestation (AOG)with ROP staging.

Methods: Clinical records of premature babies referred for ROP screening from July 2007 to August 2008 were included in the study. They were reviewed if they met the inclusion criteria of BW less than 1,500 grams and AOG less-than-28 weeks. These parameters were correlated with the ROP staging.

Results: A total of 65 babies were included in the review, 20 (10 males and 10 females) of whom met the criteria for ROP screening. Only 7 were seen by an ophthalmologist. The mean BW was 1.35 kg with AOG of 32 to 33 weeks. Two babies had stage-II ROP, 1 of whom improved after indirect laser treatment. There was strong correlation between BW and ROP (r = –0.60, p = 0.13) and between AOG and ROP (r = –0.56, p = 0.19), but the results did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion: Less than half of premature babies who met the inclusion criteria for ROP screening were evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists and pediatricians should work together to increase the capture rate of ROP screening among babies born preterm.