title: Universal ocular screening of 1021 term infants using wide-field digital imaging in a single public hospital in India - a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Universal eye screening of neonates is currently not standard of care. Early detection of abnormalities could offer prompt management and a reduction in visual morbidity. We report a pilot study using wide-field digital imaging to screen all infants at birth to explore its feasibility as a tool for universal screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutively enrolled 1021 term infants in a public hospital were imaged within 72 hr of birth using the Retcam shuttle (Clarity MSI, USA). Anterior and dilated posterior segment images were obtained. Infants with abnormal images were examined clinically, and medical or surgical treatment was given when needed, at no cost to the family.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1021 healthy full-term newborns, 48 babies had abnormal findings (4.7%). Retinal haemorrhages were the most common (52.1%) abnormality of which 24% were macular. A 'ridge' resembling retinopathy of prematurity in both eyes constituted 18.8% of all abnormalities. Nine infants (18.8% of abnormalities and 0.9% overall) had conditions meriting medical or surgical intervention and would have been missed otherwise. Seven of these nine babies (0.7%) needed medical attention with a systemic work-up for conditions such as posterior uveitis with linear perivasculitis, salt and pepper retinopathy or posterior synechia. Two of nine babies (0.2%) required surgical intervention for unilateral cataract and retinoblastoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Universal eye screening of all neonates using wide-field digital imaging is possible and safe. Extrapolating our results to the national scenario, we estimate that 226 950 infants requiring treatment would go undiagnosed annually. Universal infant eye imaging strategies must receive serious national consideration.
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinekar
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Govindaraj
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Chaitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jayadev
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Anupama Kiran
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Shwetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangalesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, K.C. General Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Lakshmipathy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simaldi
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Avadhani
authors.affiliation: Narayana Nethralaya Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Bhujang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Ophthalmology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D047929:Term Birth; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: infant blindness; retcam; screening; universal imaging; wide-field