Results of 779 cases of neonatal fundus screening and risk factors for neonatal fundus diseases

Abstract:

Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors of retinal diseases of preterm infants and full term for newborns small gestational age born (SGA) by using wide-angle digital retinal imaging system (RetCam3). Methods Clinical data of 779 preterm and SGA infants whose eyes were detected by RetCam3 between January and December 2013 before discharge were studied retrospectively. Results Among the 779 infants, there were 69 cases of retinal hemorrhage (8.9%), 10 cases (1.3%) of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), 9 cases of retinal exudative changes, 4 cases of retinal myelinated nerve fibers, 2 cases of congenita cataract, 3 cases of retinal chromatosis, 2 cases of retinal crystalline changes and 1 case of retinoblastoma. Logistic regression analysis indicated that low birth weight and gestational age and the history of oxygen inhalation were risk factors for the development of ROP and that vaginal delivery and mechanical ventilation increased the risk of retinal hemorrhage. Conclusions Neonatal fundus diseases may be so various and harmful that early fundus screening should be carried out on high-risk infants, such as preterm and SAG infants. Preventive measures should be taken against the risk factors for fundus diseases.