Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Comprehensive Clinical Study
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Abstract
Background: Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness, primarily affecting preterm and low birth weight neonates. Aim: To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity and evaluate the association between neonatal and maternal risk factors with its occurrence. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 450 preterm and low birth weight neonates admitted to a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit. The mean gestational age of the neonates was 32.6 ± 2.4 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1.46 ± 0.31 kg. All neonates were screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using standard screening protocols. Results: In the present study, retinopathy of prematurity was identified in 40 out of 450 preterm and low birth weight neonates, resulting in an overall incidence of 8.9%, with a higher occurrence observed among neonates born at lower gestational ages and with lower birth weights. Male sex showed a slight predominance among affected infants, while maternal systemic diseases showed limited association. Conclusion: Retinopathy of prematurity remains a significant complication of prematurity, and early identification of high-risk neonates is essential for timely screening and prevention of visual morbidity.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Bhavesh Govindbhai Mer, Dr. Modi Nehaben Vinodkumar, Dr. Maulika Vinodchandra Shah
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