Curriculum · Screening (National/International)
Retinopathy of prematurity screening
What it is
Retinopathy of prematurity affects the developing blood vessels at the junction of the vascular and non-vascularised retina, where there is vascular proliferation. It is one of the medical problems that follow pre term birth, which is birth after 20 weeks and before 37 weeks of gestation, and it belongs in that list with necrotising enterocolitis, anaemia of prematurity, osteopenia of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. It is mainly due to too much oxygen therapy.
How it is diagnosed
Screening is an ophthalmologic retinal exam in premature infants. The timing is not fixed for all: it is based on gestational age and birth weight.