Profile of Retinopathy of prematurity in newborns

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of blindness and visual morbidity.Objective: To study the incidence and contributing factors of retinopathy of prematurity in newborns.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the neonatology unit.Seventy five newborns with gestational age between 27 weeks and 40 weeks, who had one or more of the known risk factors, were studied during a one year period.They were followed up by an ophthalmologist until both retinae matured or they developed ROP.Cases (those requiring laser treatment and those with spontaneous resolution) were further followed up.Results: The incidence of ROP was found to be 32%.Lower gestational age (p=0.00009),lower birth weight (p= 0.00006) and a higher concentration of oxygen therapy (p= 0.00005) were found to be the significant contributing factors in the development of ROP, while factors like sex, duration of oxygen therapy, phototherapy, apnoea, thrombocytopenia, sepsis and blood transfusions were found to be insignificant.Conclusions: Low gestational age, low birth weight and high concentrations of oxygen therapy are the important risk factors in the development of ROP.