To report the incidence and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm infants referred to Alzahra Eye Hospital, Zahedan, Iran

This cross-sectional retrospective study included all preterm infants with birth weight ≤2500 g and/or gestational age ≤36 weeks who had been referred to our facility for ROP screening over a five year period from September 2010 to September 2015. Possible risk factors and findings related to eye examinations were extracted and analyzed

Among 450 infants, ROP was diagnosed in 80 (17.7%) of referred preterm infants (95% CI: 14.7-20.7%); these included stage I in 42%, stage 2 in 38%, and stage 3 or higher disease in 20% of subjects. Of 80 preterms, ROP that needed laser therapy or bevacizumab injection was detected in 21 (26.2%); 58(72.5%) had ROP that regressed spontaneously and 1case was needed to surgery. Mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) in the ROP–affected infants was 31.42± 3.2 weeks and 1,650± 709g, respectively. Risk factor analysis showed significant P-values for low GA, low BW,mean duration of mechanical ventilation, mean duration of oxygen therapy, eclampsia-preeclampsia, hypoxia,and frequent blood transfusions.After logistic regression analysis, low GA and low BW were independently associated with the condition.

The main risk factors for development of threshold ROP are low BW, duration of oxygen therapy. So it seems that prevention of premature delivery and judicious oxygen therapy is the main step for prophylaxis of ROP.