Author/Authors :
Mousavi, S Zeinab Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Riazi Esfahani, Mohammad Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Roohipoor, Ramak Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Jabbarvand, Mahmoud Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Ghalichi, Leila Department of Epidemiology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Nili Ahmadabadi, Mehdi Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Ghassemi, Fariba Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Aalami Harandi, Zahra Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Karkhaneh, Reza Eye Research Center - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of severe visual impairment and retinopathy of
prematurity (ROP)-related blindness in a tertiary eye hospital in Iran
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, clinical data of premature infants screened for ROP in Farabi
Eye Hospital during 2003-2007 were reviewed. Characteristics of advanced stages of ROP (stage
4 or 5) were determined and compared to other stages of ROP.
Results: Among 1053 infants, 380 (36.1%) had ROP, 91 infants (8.6%) had advanced stages of
ROP in at least one eye (none of them had a history of previous ROP screening); 40 of them had
bilateral stage 5. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) in infants with advanced
ROP were 28.3±2.3 (24-35) weeks and 1267±398 (450-2600) g, respectively. 74.7% of infants with
advanced ROP had been examined after 9 weeks of infantile age. Only 23.1% (21/91) had
recommendation for eye examination by their neonatologists. Lower GA was the independent risk
factor of developing advanced ROP (P< 0.001).
Conclusion: We observed a high incidence of advanced ROP (stage 4 and or 5) in our settings;
most of them were not referred for screening examination during the first few weeks and had
delayed eye examination. Among the possible risk factors, GA was the only factor related with
development of advanced ROP.
