J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1959 Dec;2(1):55-62.

Retinal hemorrhage in the newborn, a statistical study of 648 infants

• Lee MS
• Kim SC

Abstract

here is a wide variation in the incidence of retinal hemorrhage in the new born. Koenigstein reports the occurence rate as 10% Sylvan as 27%, Haessler as 33% and Corburn as 46%. Thus the reported incidence of retinal hemorrhage in the newborn varies from 10 to about 40%. Also, there is no general agreement as to the cause of the retinal hemorrhage. Intensive studies of this condition in the newborn have been carried out in several countries. However, there have been no reports of such studies in the Korean newborn. Such a clinical investigation and research program was recently undertaken at the Ewha Woman's University Hospital. 648 infants were examined for the presence or absence of retinal hemorrhage within 24-48 hours of the time of birth. Delivery had been by the normal method, by forceps delivery by breech delivery or by cesarean section. In order to dilate the pupils, we instilled 1% Homatropine into each eye three times. This was done at three minute intervals about 20 minutes before the examination. The retina was examined directly with the infant in complete darkness. After the examination, 1% pilocarpine nitrate solution was instilled into the babys eyes. The results of our clinical research include the following findings: 1. 155 out of 648 newborns were found to have retinal hemorrhage, as incidence of 23.9%. 2. The incidence of hemorrhage was greater in the male(27.9% in male, 19.4% in female). 3. The incidence of hemorrhage in the infant of the primipara was 3.8% greater than that of the multipara. However, statistically speaking, the chi-square test showed no significant difference between the two groups. 4. Premature infants(weight less than 3 ilograms) and post- mature infants(weight more than 3.6 Kilograms) showed a greater incidence of retinal hemorrhage than that found in infants of normal weight(18 tables).

MeSH Terms

Cesarean Section
Darkness
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Infant*
Infant, Newborn*
Male
Parturition
Pilocarpine
Pregnancy
Pupil
Retina
Retinal Hemorrhage*
Retinaldehyde*
Statistics as Topic*
Surgical Instruments
Pilocarpine
Retinaldehyde