Results Of Screening And Treatment For Retinopathy Of Prematurity

Objective of this study was to determine the incidence and treatment results of retinopathy of prematurity among premature infants followed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Ophthalmology Clinic, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University. Premature infants followed between January 2012 and June 2014 were included in the study. Infants were grouped according to birth weight and gestational age. Retinopathy of prematurity incidence, stage and percentage of infants who were treated with Argon laser were evaluated. Also, the treatment results and complications of treatment were determined. The mean gestational age and the mean birth weight of the 304 premature infants included in our study were 31.1 ± 2.3 (24-36) weeks and 1587.58 ± 454.49 (490- 3300) gr, respectively. Retinopathy of prematurity was detected in 24.7% (75/304) of the followed infants. Retinopathy of prematurity was recognized at the zone 2 (45 infants) most frequently, while at the zone 1 (1 infant) was least frequently. Stage 1 (43 infants) disease was occurred most frequently, however stage 3 (3 infants) was observed least frequently. There was no premature infants in stage 4 and stage 5. Aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity was diagnosed in only one premature infant. A total of 45 (%60) premature infants having retinopathy of prematurity had also plus disease. Argon laser treatment was applied to 22 (%29.3) premature infants with favorable results in all of them. As an important disease retinopathy of prematurity composes a great risk of blindness for infants with small gestational age and low birth weight. Argon laser treatment of eyes with retinopathy of prematurity seems to be an effective and safe alternative.