Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Clinical Study Conducted at Teritiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity is a disease of retinal vasculature seen in preterm babies. Though oxygen administration was considered as the major cause for ROP in the earlier days, it is now well known that ROP is a multifactorial disease. ROP is considered as one of the major causes for preventable childhood blindness wordwide. A hospital based study was conducted on 100 babies attending ROP screening in Regional Eye Hospital, Kurnool from November 2019 to October 2021. Detailed birth history and history of risk factors were noted and dilated fundus examination was done with indirect ophthalmoscopy with the aid of eye speculum and scleral depressor. Screening and follow-up schedule was done according to ETROP guidelines. 24 babies showed ROP in various stages among which 6 needed treatment and 18 showed regression of ROP on subsequent follow-up's. The collected data was analysed to know the signicance of association of various risk factors to ROP.