ABSTRACT
To determine the incidence, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] in premature infants with late retinal examination at Farabi Hospital from 2001 to 2006. In a cross-sectional study, hospital records of premature infants who were examined later than 9 weeks after birth were reviewed for possible risk factors of ROP including gender, singleton or multiple gestations, gestational age [GA], birth weight [BW], oxygen therapy, blood transfusion, phototherapy, and respiratory distress syndrome [RDS], as well as the age at initial examination. From 693 infants referred for ROP screening, 191 [27.6%] had late retinal examination at mean age of 144.8 +/- 158.4 [range 64-1460] days. Of these 191 infants, 75 [39.3%] had different stages of ROP, 58 [30.4%] had stage 4 or 5 disease and 27 [14.1%] had stage 5 ROP in both eyes which were untreatable. GA and BW were associated with development of ROP [P<0.001]. The high prevalence of premature infants with late retinal examination and high incidence of severe ROP necessitates prompt intervention to optimize referral and early screening of premature infants