UK population based study of severe retinopathy of prematurity: screening, treatment, and outcome.
BACKGROUND
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the few causes of childhood blindness in which severe vision impairment is largely preventable. Ophthalmic screening for ROP is required to identify disease that requires treatment whereby the development of potentially blinding disease can be minimised.


OBJECTIVE
To make the first UK population based estimate of the incidence of babies with severe ROP (stage 3 or more); to document their clinical characteristics and management and to evaluate the appropriateness of current ROP screening guidelines in the UK.


METHODS
Cases were recruited through a national surveillance programme with 1 year ophthalmic follow up and data from clinician completed questionnaires.


RESULTS
Between 1 December 1997 and 31 March 1999, 233 preterm babies with stage 3 ROP were identified. Severity (location, extent, and presence of plus disease) was associated with degree of prematurity, most severe in the most premature babies. Fifty nine percent were treated. The UK screening protocol was followed in two thirds of cases, but in the remainder it was begun too late or was too infrequent. Three quarters of the cases were followed up at 1 year, and 13% had a severe vision deficit as a result of ROP.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual deficit as a result of ROP in premature babies continues to be a severe disability in some of the survivors of neonatal intensive care. Further efforts are needed to organise treatment regionally to improve outcome and standards of practice.
Haines
L
L
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London, UK.
Fielder
A R
AR
Baker
H
H
Wilkinson
A R
AR
D001724:Birth Weight; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000592:standards*