title: Retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low birth weight infants in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the incidence rate of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 1,719 preterm infants were reviewed between January 2003 and September 2011. Of them, 225 (13.1%) infants with birth weights of less than 1,000 g were enrolled in the study. ROP was classified according to the international classification of retinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 225 ELBW infants, 47.6% had advanced ROP, 23.1% had mild ROP, and 29.3% did not have ROP; 30.2% infants required treatment. ROP was detected in 75.6% of multiple births versus 69.6% of singleton births; there were no significant differences between the two groups (P = .388).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extremely premature infants with low gestational ages had high incidence rates of advanced ROP. Most ELBW infants require ROP treatment. In addition, increased survival of ELBW infants owing to advancements in neonatal care warrants the specialization of ophthalmologists in regard to improved diagnosis and treatment of ROP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey. dr.selimdemir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aygün
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ortak
authors.forename: Özlem Eski
authors.initials: ÖE
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Küçüködük
authors.forename: Ümit
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Beden
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology