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Non-contact retinal imaging compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy for retinopathy of prematurity screening: infant safety profile

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 1266–1269 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

Most retinopathy of prematurity screening involves an ophthalmologist performing indirect ophthalmoscopy, which can be stressful to infants. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety profile (using cardiopulmonary events as an indicator) of imaging infants with a non-contact retinal camera compared to examining them using indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Study design

Prospective cohort study of 99 infants at a community hospital who were examined using indirect ophthalmoscopy and imaged using a non-contact retinal camera for retinopathy of prematurity. We evaluated the difference in the occurrence of safety events (i.e., clinically significant bradycardia, tachycardia, oxygen desaturation, or apnea) following the clinical examination versus retinal imaging.

Result

Safety events occurred after 0.8% (n = 1) of imaging sessions and 5.8% (n = 18) of clinical examinations (mean difference = −0.055 (p = 0.015), favoring imaging).

Conclusion

Retinal imaging with a non-contact camera was well tolerated and less stressful to infants compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy by an ophthalmologist.

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Acknowledgements

SGP’s work was funded by NIH K23EY024268. The funding organization had no role in the design of the study, collection and analysis of data, or the decision to submit this report for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    S. Grace Prakalapakorn, Sandra S. Stinnett, Sharon F. Freedman & David K. Wallace

  2. Cape Fear Eye Associates, Fayetteville, NC, USA

    J. Wayne Riggins

  3. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC, USA

    J. Wayne Riggins & Keith J. Gallaher

Authors
  1. S. Grace Prakalapakorn
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  2. Sandra S. Stinnett
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  3. Sharon F. Freedman
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  4. David K. Wallace
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  5. J. Wayne Riggins
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  6. Keith J. Gallaher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Grace Prakalapakorn.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Prakalapakorn, S.G., Stinnett, S.S., Freedman, S.F. et al. Non-contact retinal imaging compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy for retinopathy of prematurity screening: infant safety profile. J Perinatol 38, 1266–1269 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0160-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0160-5

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