Who Needs Screening?
Screening for ROP is essential for the following infants:
All premature infants with a birth weight of 2000 grams or less.
Babies born at or before 34 weeks of gestation
Infants with a birth weight over 2000 grams, born after 34 weeks, if other ROP risk factors are present.
Infants with a birth weight over 2000 grams, born after 34 weeks, if a neonatologist identifies a risk for ROP.
Risk Factors for ROP
In addition to prematurity and low birth weight, other risk factors include:
Supplemental oxygen
Unstable health during hospitalisation
Hypoxemia
Mechanical ventilation
Hypotension
Anaemia
Blood transfusions
Late-onset infections
Delayed return to normal birth weight (beyond 14 days)
Hypercarbia
Timing for Screening
ROP screening should occur before 30 days of life.
ROP screening should occur before 30 days of life. Optimal screening for infants weighing less than 1200 grams or born before 28 weeks is between the 2nd and 3rd week of life.
Screening Procedure
The screening is best performed in the presence of a neonatologist or pediatrician, ideally in the 'step-down room' of the neonatal intensive care unit. Key steps include:
Administering the last feed approximately 1 hour before the examination.
Dilating the infant’s pupils.
Swaddling the infant in warm linen wraps.
Conducting the ROP examination using indirect ophthalmoscopy with a 20 or 28 D lens, or preferably with Retcam imaging for documentation.
Monitoring for signs of shortness of breath and bradycardia
Using sterile pellets soaked in 24% sucrose or 10% dextrose for analgesia.
Ensuring a functional resuscitation kit is readily available.
Treatment Facilities Offered
At Fathima Eye Care, we provide laser photoablation as the primary treatment modality, following international guidelines (ETROP). The procedure uses a 532nm green laser delivered via indirect ophthalmoscopy for specific stages of ROP.
Long-term follow-up is crucial for detecting potential visual disorders, such as:
Strabismus (squint)
Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Myopia (short-sightedness)
Childhood cataracts
Retinal detachment
