Retinopathy of prematurity in infants with birth weights greater than 1250 grams.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) occurs in infants whose birth weights exceed 1250 g.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1118 premature infants with birth weights > 1250 g, who were referred for screening examinations for ROP, to determine the severity of ROP observed. We then cross-tabulated these data with each infant's estimated gestational age and birth weight. Finally, we applied currently recommended screening guidelines retrospectively to determine whether they would have identified infants who had developed severe disease and who were subsequently treated.


RESULTS
Stage 3 ROP was detected in infants with estimated gestational ages up to and including 32 weeks and birth weights up to and including 1874 g. A total of 26 of the participants received laser treatment for threshold ROP. Seven of these infants would not have been referred for screening according to current guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Current screenings guidelines may fail to detect severe ROP in larger, more mature infants.
Hutchinson
Amy K
AK
N. Edgar Miles Center for Pediatric Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
O'Neil
James W
JW
Morgan
Elizabeth N
EN
Cervenak
Martha A
MA
Saunders
Richard A
RA
D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053685:Laser Therapy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies