Visual Outcomes of Preterm Infants With Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Background: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) may have negative effects on the eye structure and refractive error which could be prevented if optimal laser treatment was provided. Objective: To examine the prevalence of visual morbidities and their determinants in children who had ROP. Methods: Retrospective cohort study with prospective visual follow up to 36 months corrected age including all infants admitted to NICU weighing 1250 g and/or born 28 weeks at Calgary Health Region, AB, Canada, between 1996 and 2004. Infants with congenital anomalies or who died before final assessment were excluded. The screening, staging and laser therapy of ROP was carried out as per the Canadian Screening Guidelines, International Classification and Early Treatment of ROP, respectively. The primary outcome is visual morbidity defined as any of the following: impaired visual acuity, abnormalities of refraction, ocular motility or ocular structure. Results: Of the 1065 infants included, 311 were either missing or didn't have their final assessment. Of the remaining 745, 50% had no ROP, 32% had mild ROP (