Purpose : To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of severe visual impairment and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)-related blindness in a tertiary eye hospital in Iran

Methods : In a cross-sectional study, clinical data of premature infants screened for ROP in Farabi Eye Hospital during 2003-2007 were reviewed. Characteristics of advanced stages of ROP (stage 4 or 5) were determined and compared to other stages of ROP.

Results : Among 1053 infants, 380 (36.1%) had ROP, 91 infants (8.6%) had advanced stages of ROP in at least one eye (none of them had a history of previous ROP screening) 40 of them had bilateral stage 5. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) in infants with advanced ROP were 28.3±2.3 (24-35) weeks and 1267±398 (450-2600) g, respectively. 74.7% of infants with advanced ROP had been examined after 9 weeks of infantile age. Only 23.1% (²¹/₉₁) had recommendation for eye examination by their neonatologists. Lower GA was the independent risk factor of developing advanced ROP (P< 0.001).

Conclusion : We observed a high incidence of advanced ROP (stage 4 and or 5) in our settings most of them were not referred for screening examination during the first few weeks and had delayed eye examination. Among the possible risk factors, GA was the only factor related with development of advanced ROP.

Iranian Journal of Ophthalmology 201022(2):19-24 © 2010 by the Iranian Society of Ophthalmology