J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2002 May;9(1):35-44.

The Optimal Time of First Ophthalmic Examination for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

• Hwang JH
• Kim BR
• Kim SS
• Chang YS
• Park WS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal time of first ophthalmic examination for early detection and proper treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) based on the chronological age or the postconceptional age.
METHODS
Medical records of all extremely low birth weight infants(<1,000 g at birth) admitted to the NICU of Samsung Medical Center between January 1995 and December 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Infants were grouped according to gestational age : Group I (GAor=27 weeks). And we evaluated the time of first examination, the time of onset ROP, the time of peak stage and the time of threshold disease requiring cryotherapy or laser therapy.
RESULTS
Among all 80 infant patients, 72 (90%) were found to have ROP. And 23 (29%) were treated for threshold disease with cryotherapy or laser therpy. There was no significant difference in incidence of ROP between two groups, and also no serious case of ROP was found. At time of first ophthalmic examination, onset ROP and threshold disease there was no difference of chronological age between two groups, but postconceptional age of Group II was considerably higher than Group I (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
ELBW infants less than 1,000 g should receive initial ROP screening using the chronological age guideline of 4 to 6 weeks rather than 31- to 33- week postconceptional age guideline.

Keyword

Retinopathy of prematurity; Extremely low birth weight infant; Chronological age; Postconceptional age

MeSH Terms

Cryotherapy
Gestational Age
Humans
Incidence
Infant*
Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
Infant, Low Birth Weight*
Infant, Newborn
Laser Therapy
Mass Screening*
Medical Records
Retinopathy of Prematurity*
Retrospective Studies