World Health Organization’s Vision 2020 program has recognized Retinopathy of Prematurity(ROP) as an important cause of childhood blindness in industrialized and developing countries. Inthe last few years, it has been identifi ed in many under developed countries as well, as a result ofimproved neonatal intensive care. In Nepal, ROP screening is carried out in a few tertiary hospitalsbut there is no published data on this disease. The purpose of this study was to fi nd out the incidence,severity and risk factors of ROP among infants screened in a tertiary care hospital in the EasternRegion of Nepal.A prospective cohort study was carried out in neonates with gestational age of 34 weeks or less and,or birth weight of 1700 gm or less born over the period of one year. Dilated fundus examination ofall babies was done by indirect ophthalmoscopy between 2-4 weeks after birth and followed up tillthe retinal vascularization was complete. Classifi cation of ROP was done according to internationalclassifi cation (ICROP). Maternal and neonatal risk factors were also noted.A total of 55 babies fulfi lled the screening criteria. ROP was present in 25.45% (n=14) of the babies.Threshold disease was noted in 5.45% (n=3) of the babies screened. Low birth weight (p<0.01)and low gestational age (p<0.01) was signifi cantly associated with the incidence of ROP. Oxygensupplementation (p=<0.01) was an independent risk factor.ROP screening should be performed in all preterm low birth weight infants where there is availabilityof good neonatal intensive care units. The examination should be intensifi ed in those having riskfactors like oxygen. Further studies in the other tertiary care hospitals in Nepal would help toestablish the screening criteria for Nepalese infants.Key words: Retinopathy of prematurity, Eastern Nepal, screening
Risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care hospital in South India
