A STUDY ON RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY BY REVIEW OF RISK FACTORS THROUGH SCREENING IN TERTIARY EYE CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease that affects premature infants.The purpose of the study is to identify various maternal and fetal risk factors for ROP and to categorize the premature babies according to severity of disease and associated risk factors.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted on 100 infants from May 2021 to August 2021. Examination was done by a single ophthalmologist specialized to screen the babies. It was done 4 weeks after the birth and Detailed history included the birthweight, gestational age, the postnatal problems, obstetric history were obtained. Pupillary dilatation was done with a mixture of 2.5% phenylephrine and 1% tropicamide.0.5% proparacaine is used for topical anesthesia. An infantile lid speculum was used to separate the lids. Fundus was examined with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and +20D condensing lens.

Results: Prematurity and low birth weight are the most common and important risk factors. Most of the babies had symmetrical disease (88%) and zone 3 is most commonly involved (67%).Apart from prematurity and low birthweight, respiratory distress syndrome with oxygen supplementation was common association (56%).Various maternal risk factors were found to be common associations like pre eclampsia (33%) and gestational diabetes (22%).

Conclusion: ROP is associated with several maternal and fetal risk factors. Early detection by screening of the premature babies can prevent blinding complication. Inadvertent and generous oxygen administration must be stopped due to its high association with ROP. All the premature babies must be screened 4 weeks after gestation for the earliest detection of the disease with an ophthalmologist specialized in that field with regular followups and prompt intervention as soon as the disease is identified.