Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tertiary Care Center of Northeast India

Abstract

Introduction: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a blinding disease of premature and low birth weight babies with abnormal proliferation of the immature blood vessels at the junction of vascular and the avascular retina. Aim: To study incidence of ROP in new born infants and its associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study done at a tertiary care centre after obtaining the ethical clearance and consent of parents. All the babies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were examined using indirect ophthalmoscopy after full mydriasis and subsequently followed up according to the schedule. Treatment was done according to the stages. Results: Out of the total 89 babies, 13 babies (14.61%) had developed ROP in both the eyes during screening. The most important risk factors which were positively correlated were oxygen supplementation, Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), foetal distress. Various other anterior and posterior segment diseases were identified during screening of ROP. Conclusion: ROP is still one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in children. Universal eye screening must be implicated in all centres for all neonates.

Keywords

• oxygen supplementation
• premature babies
• respiratory distress syndrome