The Optimal Time of First Ophthalmic Examination for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal time of first ophthalmic examination for early detection and proper treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) based on the chronological age or the postconceptional age. METHODS: Medical records of all extremely low birth weight infants(or=27 weeks). And we evaluated the time of first examination, the time of onset ROP, the time of peak stage and the time of threshold disease requiring cryotherapy or laser therapy. RESULTS: Among all 80 infant patients, 72 (90%) were found to have ROP. And 23 (29%) were treated for threshold disease with cryotherapy or laser therpy. There was no significant difference in incidence of ROP between two groups, and also no serious case of ROP was found. At time of first ophthalmic examination, onset ROP and threshold disease there was no difference of chronological age between two groups, but postconceptional age of Group II was considerably higher than Group I (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ELBW infants less than 1,000 g should receive initial ROP screening using the chronological age guideline of 4 to 6 weeks rather than 31- to 33- week postconceptional age guideline.