RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN ABUJA; OUR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Introduction/Background: Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the avoidable causes of blindness in children. Prematurity and several other risk factors have been linked to this sight threatening condition, with varying incidence from region to region. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of ROP, its severity, risk factors and the outcome of treatment.

Subjects and Methods: This retrospective analysis of records of all preterm infants who underwent screening for ROP at the special care baby unit (SCBU) and eye clinic between January 2020 and December 2023.

Results: This study included 122 infants with a mean birth weight of 1251.28±291.52g. and a mean gestational age of 30.02±2.00 weeks who underwent ROP examinations. Of these, 11 infants (9%) developed ROP, out of which 6 (4.9%) developed type 1 and 5 (4.1%) developed type 2 ROP. One child delivered at 34 weeks with a birth weight of 2000g had aggressive ROP. four infants (3.3%) underwent successful treatment. ROP was found to be associated with lower gestational age(< 30 weeks), low birth weight (< 1250g) and prolonged use of supplemental oxygen.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of ROP in our cohort is similar to global rates, there is need to further reduce the incidence by careful monitoring of oxygen therapy, continued improvement in prenatal, perinatal and neonatal care while providing timely screening for at risk infants and prompt treatment for infants with type 1 ROP.