On the impact of seasonal solar activity on the progression of retinopathy of prematurity: preliminary research results

Abstract

Purpose. To study the effect of bright sunlight on immature retina of a premature baby at different periods of solar activity.Material and methods. The study involved two groups of premature babies: 32 babies (64 eyes) in 2016 and 50 babies (100 eyes) in 2017. Both groups were tested using a retinal camera (RetCam Shuttle, USA) on the 3rd or 4th week after birth. In cases of threshold stages of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) binocular ophthalmoscopy were performed. In such cases, laser coagulation of the retina was performed using "ALOD 01" (ALCOM Medica, Russia).Results. The greatest number of ROP with the greatest number of surgical interventions and adverse outcomes that required vitreoretinal surgery were revealed in the second seasonal period (May — August), which experienced the highest solar activity. In 2016, the amount of ROP cases diagnosed in this period amounted to 59 %, which is comparable with the corresponding amount revealed in 2017 (61.1 %).Conclusions. Stronger solar activity and its longer periods increase the risk of ROP; consequently, to prevent this pathology, the eyes of the newborn should be protected from the negative effects of daylight and artificial light, including that emitted by diagnostic equipment.

Keywords

• ретинопатия недоношеных
• методы профилактики