Background: To conduct an effective ROP screening program according to the National Neonatology Forum (NNF) and to identify the infants who could benefit from treatment and make appropriate recommendations on the timing of future screening.

Aims and Objectives: To estimate the incidence of ROP among Premature infants.

Material and Methods: A Prospective Observational study of 2 year in which 170 patients were screened with following criteria:GA at birth of ≤ 35 weeks, BW< 1700 gms, exposed to oxygen > 30days, other factors that can increase the risk of ROP and where screening should be considered are premature babies >37 weeks and >1700gms. The first screening was done within 4 weeks (30 days) of life in infants with age >28 weeks of GA, 2-3 weeks after birth if GA <28 weeks or BW is <1200gms

Results: Out of the 170 babies screened 35 babies had ROP. Incidence of ROP in our study was 20.59%. Mean BW of ROP babies was 1528.94±334.59 g. Mean GA at birth of ROP babies was 32.31± 2.38 weeks, (range 26-39 weeks). Using the current AAP screening guidelines (≤ 1500g BW or ≤32 weeks GA) 8 babies (16 eyes) i.e 22.85% would have been missed. 11 eyes of 6 babies (68.75%) would have been missed if UKRCPH were used.

Conclusion: ROP may be seen in heavier and larger babies in India that have consequently a shorter window period for development of ROP.

Keywords: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Screening, Gestational Age, Birth Weight.

1. Pejawar R, Vinekar A, Bilagi A. National Neonatology Foundation’s Evidence-based Clinical Practise Guidelines (2010), Retinopathy of Prematurity, NNF India, New Delhi 2010:253–62

2. Howson CP, Kinney MV, Lawn JE, editors. March of Dimes, PMNCH, Save the Children, WHO. Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. Back to cited text no. 4
3. Jalali S, Anand R, Kumar H, Dogra MR, Azad R, Gopal L. Programme planning and screening strategy in retinopathy of prematurity. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2003;51(1):89–99.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Ophthalmology. Screening examination of premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity. Pediatrics ; 117: 572-576.

5. Murthy KR, Murthy PR, Shah DA, Nandan MR, S NH, Benakappa N. Comparison of profile of retinopathy of prematurity in semi urban/rural and urban NICUs in Karnataka, India. Br J Ophthalmol2013;97:687-9. Back to cited text no. 5 
6. Hungi B, Vinekar A, Datti N, Kariyappa P, Braganza S, Chinnaiah S, et al. Retinopathy of prematurity in a rural Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in South India – A prospective study. Indian J Pediatr. 2012;79:911–5.

7. Sundar KC, Devi Meenakshi K, Patil AB. A retrospective study on the risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity in NICU of tertiary care hospital. Int J ContempPediatr2018;5:1447-51.
8. Higgins RD, Mendelsohn AL, DeFeo MJ, Ucsel R, Hendricks-Munoz KD. Antenatal dexamethasone and decreased severity of retinopathy of prematurity. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:601–5.
9. Rekha S, Battu RR. Retinopathy of prematurity: incidence and risk factors. Indian Pediatr 1996; 33: 999-1003.
10. Charan R, Dogra MR, Gupta A, Narang A. The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in a neonatal care unit. Indian J Ophthalmol. 1995;43:123–6.
11. Le C, Basani LB, Zurakowski D, Ayyala RS, Agraharam SG. Retinopathy of prematurity: Incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes at a tertiary care center in Telangana. J Clin Ophthalmol Res 2016;4:119-22.

12. Alajbegovic-Halimic J, Zvizdic D, Alimanovic-Halilovic E, Dodik I, Duvnjak S. Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Born Children. Med Arch. 2015;69(6):409-13.
13. Freitas AM, Mörschbächer R, Thorell MR, Rhoden EL. Incidence and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity: a retrospective cohort study. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2018;4:20. Published 2018 May 31. doi:10.1186/s40942-018-0125-z

14. Rao KA, Purkayastha J, Hazarika M, Chaitra R, Adith KM. Analysis of prenatal and postnatal risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2013;61(11):640-4.
15. Gopal L, Sharma T, Ramchandran S. Retinopathy of prematurity: A study. Indian J Ophthalmol1995;43:59-61.
16. Jalali S, Matalia J, Hussain A, Anand R. Modification of screening criteria for retinopathy of prematurity in India and other middle-income countries. Am J Ophthalmol2006;141:966-8.
17. Vinekar A, Dogra MR, Sangtam T, Narang A, Gupta A. Retinopathy of prematurity in Asian Indian babies weighing greater than 1250 grams at birth: Ten-year data from a tertiary care center in a developing country. Indian J Ophthalmol2007;55:331-6.

Dr Miloni Shah

Permanent Address: 601, Manju Castle, 51- A St. Xavier’s Road, Vile Parle West. Mumbai 400056. India