Ophthalmic short- and long-term outcomes for premature infants: Results of an extended follow-up program in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: Study the ophthalmic morbidities for infants born prematurely at a Tertiary care center in Riyadh city.Methods: Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study at King Fahad Medical City for premature infants born at gestational age (GA)≤32 weeks or birth weight (BW) ≤1500 g during the study period from January 1, 2007, until the end of December 2009 was conducted.Short term outcome was diagnosis with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and long-term outcome was ophthalmic findingsat age 18–24 months.Results: The cumulative incidence of ROP was 30%. Infants diagnosed with ROP had a mean GA of 27 weeks (23–35 weeks) andmean BW of 907 g (530–1730 g). Risk factors other than GA and BW for ROP, identified in the predictive logistic regression model,were blood transfusion [odds ratio (OR) 1.27] and diagnosis with intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 2.90). Strabismus was identifiedin 14% of the study cohort. Diagnosis of hyperopia (spherical equivalent P≥0.75 D) was equal in both ROP and no-ROPgroups (p = 0.56). Myopia (spherical equivalent P≥0.75 D) and astigmatism ≥1.00 D were diagnosed more frequently in theROP group (p 0.0001 and 0.04, respectively).Conclusions: A higher incidence of ROP was observed in this cohort compared to some Saudi Arabian centers. It is recommendedthat the screening criteria be maintained and that the effects of further control of blood transfusion be assessed in a prospectivestudy. The authors recommend an extra ophthalmic evaluation at the age of 18–24 months for all premature infants born withGA ≤32 weeks.