EPOS

European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society

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Retinopathy of prematurity in the IInd department of the Neonatal Care Unit of Aristotle University in Greece

Ziakas Nikolaos¹, Mataftsi Asimina¹, Karagianni Voula², Vartholomaiou Areti¹, Dimitrakos Stavros¹, Nikolaidis Nikolaos^2
1IInd Department of Ophthalmology, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, ²IInd Department of Neonatal Care Unit, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

Introduction:Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is still a leading cause of severe ophthalmological pathology in very low birth weight premature infants. The improvement of the provided care in neonatal facilities has lead to high rates of survival for premature infants and subsequent increase of the number of infants at high risk for ROP. The aim of this study is to present the frequency of ROP and follow up outcome in a cohort of neonates that met the screening criteria for ophthalmological examination. Methods:Infants that met the criteria for ROP screening according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Royal College of Ophthalmologists Guidelines, thus infants with birth weight ≤1500 grams and/or gestational age ≤32 weeks, were recorded from April 2004 up to October 2008. The presence of ROP was determined by indirect fundoscopy after dilation according to the CRYO-ROP guidelines and ROP was classified in 5 stages according to the International Classification for ROP. Those records were reviewed retrospectively and the ROP occurrence and ROP requiring treatment frequency were calculated. Follow up data were also recorded until 12 months of postmenstrual age. Results:ROP was observed in 49 of 496 (9,9%) neonates that were recorded based on the above criteria. 11 of them (22,5%) developed threshold disease necessitating treatment while in the rest 38 (77,5%), the disease resolved to cicatricial ROP. 8 of them received treatment with Cryotherapy while 4 required two sessions. The other 3 received diode laser treatment. In 9 neonates (81,8%), ROP was arrested whereas in two patients the disease progressed to the next stages (18,2%). At 12 months postmenstrual age, one patient developed high myopia and squint, another hypermetropia and squint and one more nystagmous(0,2%). These patients are still being followed. Conclusion:Τhe frequency of ROP is relatively low compared to that of recent international studies elaborated in countries with similar to ours level of development. However, evaluation of these criteria and assessment of prognostic factors need to be studied prospectively aiming to a better guidance in ROP screening in Greece.