Gholam Hossein Yaghoubi - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Behrouz Heydari - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Gholamreza Faal - Department of Pediatrics, Valiaser Hospital, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Elahe Heydari - Department of Pediatric, Imam Reza Hospital, Sina St., Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Razavi Khorassan, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Alipour - Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

Introduction: The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity is expected to increase along with the developing of premature infants’ care and better prognosis of these infants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants. Methods: According to this cross-sectional study, one same ophthalmologist examined the eyes of all the babies at ۴ weeks postnatally or ۳۲ weeks post-conceptional age, whichever was earlier, for all premature infants under ۳۷ weeks and those who had ROP risk factor. These infants were referred to the ophthalmology clinic of Vali-asr Hospital by neonatologists and pediatricians. History and risk factor was assessed by the neonatologist on admission time. Data were analyzed with SPSS software (version ۱۹) using Chi-square, and Fisher's Exact Test. The significance level was considered P < ۰.۰۵. Results: A total of ۲۰۹ patients were referred to the ophthalmologic clinic of Vali-asr hospital of whom ۱۵ infants (۷.۲%) were diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity. The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity had a significant relationship with gestational age and birth weight. However, there were no significant associations with other risk factors (gender, oxygen, respiratory distress, sepsis, and phototherapy). Conclusions: Overall, the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity in our study was lower than that of other studies. Excellence in pre- and neonatal care, screening and early treatment of retinopathy of prematurity are keys to preventing vision loss induced by this disease. It is mandatory to ensure that these newborns have regular ophthalmologic support.

Retinopathy of Prematurity, Infant, Premature, Risk Factors, Prevalence