ABSTRACT
Objective To study the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants in Xiamen, Fujian. Design Retrospective case series. Participants From Oct. 2004 to Dec. 2008, 375 infants with birth weights ≤2500g or gestational age ≤32w were screened in Xiamen the First Hospital. Methods Initial examinations with the binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and the scleral depression began at 4～6 weeks after birth or at 32 weeks postconception. All infants were followed-up until a stable retinal situation was reached. Main Outcome Measures The prevalence of ROP. Results Retinopathy of prematurity was detected in 10.93% of 375 neonates, including 18 eyes of stage 1, 48 eyes in stage 2, 14 eyes in stage 3, 2 eyes in AP-ROP. The prevalence of ROP in the infants with the birth weight ≤1000g, 1001-1500g and 1501-2000g was 45%, 17.07%, 7.01%, respectively; the occurrence rate of ROP in the infants with the gestational age ≤28 weeks, 29-30 weeks, 31-32 weeks, 33-34 weeks was 34.48%, 2.07%, 12.71%, 8.25%, respectively. Conclusions Earlier screening for ROP is very important. Low birth weight and young gestational age are the most important risk factors in the development of ROP.