To Study the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity at a Tertiary Care Centre in Agra

AIM The aim of this study to estimate the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity and to identify the risk factors which predispose to retinopathy of prematurity. SUBJECTS AND METHOD The present prospective study was conducted at upgraded department of ophthalmology and department of paediatrics, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, India from November 2014 to October 2016. Neonates with gestational age 2500g infants was 80 %, 57.50 %, 8.5 % and 5 %, respectively. Of the 155 babies screened, 20 (57.14 %) were in stage 1, 10 (28.57 %) were in stage 2, 5 (14.28 %) were in stage 3. None of the studied neonates presented ROP at stages 4 and 5. Sepsis, intra ventricular haemorrhage, blood transfusion, oxygen therapy, twins delivery was found to be statistically significant for the development of retinopathy of prematurity. CONCLUSION The prevalence of ROP among high risk babies is significant. The data of this study suggest that low gestational age, sepsis, oxygen therapy, frequency of blood transfusion, twins delivery are independent risk factors in the development of ROP. All high risk babies should be screened for ROP as early screening and intervention can help to increase the childs chances of better vision and hence better quality of life and also reduce the load of paediatric blindness due to ROP.