Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine, on a nationwide basis, the incidence of stage 3 ROP, its treatment, and outcome at one year. Methods: 15-month prospective nationwide cohort study of babies with stage 3 ROP commenced November 1997, and was conducted through the British Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit. Data from the neonatal period were obtained by questionnaire. Infants were then examined by their local ophthalmologist at one year corrected age. Results: The study cohort consisted of 235 infants with confirmed stage 3 ROP. Mean gestational age (GA) was 26.0 weeks, and birth weight (BW) 789 g. All babies were less than 32 weeks GA and/or 1501g BW except a full term baby with Down’s syndrome excluded from the analysis. Four babies with stage 3 ROP were outwith criteria set at 1251 BW and and 30 weeks GA. 132 babies were treated, (laser for 78%) at a mean postmenstrual age of 37.4 weeks (range 32.6 to 50.0 weeks). One year ophthalmic data were available for 157 of 209 survivors (75%) of whom 70% had some degree of ophthalmic morbidity. Vision deficits were present in 29 infants (18%): blindness that was bilateral in 6, and unilateral in 11; reduced vision in both eyes in 12 and one eye in 7 infants. Nystagmus was present in 28/157 (18%) and strabismus in 33% (50/151), convergent in 72%. Myopia was detected in 33.8% eyes, -5.0DS or more in 9.4% (n=25). Conclusion: In this nationwide study, all babies fell within the UK national screening guidelines with one exception. 59% babies with stage 3 ROP were treated. 70% infants who had stage 3 ROP had ophthalmic morbidity at one year of age, although 82% (128/157) had no measurable vision deficit. It is recognised that these one year data inevitably under-represent the longterm sequelae of ROP.
Keywords: 572 retinopathy of prematurity