Bell's phenomenon during screening examination for retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
Bell's phenomenon (BP), which may disturb screening examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is known to present infrequently in premature babies. Stress associated with the examinations can influence expression of BP. The authors of the present study evaluated BP during examinations for ROP.


METHODS
The present study included 102 eyes of 51 premature babies. Expression of BP was assessed at 3 steps of the examination in the following order: after insertion of a speculum, after illumination of an indirect ophthalmoscope and after scleral depression. The relationship between the expression of BP and the gestational age at the examination was analyzed in each step of the examination.


RESULTS
The frequency of BP after the speculum insertion and the illumination was 77% to 92% in infants 32 weeks of age or younger, and decreased significantly to 16% to 57% in infants 42 weeks of age or older (p < 0.005). BP after the scleral depression had no significant association with the gestational age. Frequency of BP increased significantly as the steps of the examination proceeded (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
BP was frequent in premature infants during ROP examination in spite of neurological immaturity. The examiner should take BP into consideration, which frequently occurs in younger infants.
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Ji Eun
JE
Lee
Jun Mo
JM
Park
Hee Young
HY
Choi
Boo Sup
BS
Oum
D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*