Abstract
Introduction: Retinopathy of pre maturity is a disease that involves premature neonates that their retinal vascularization was not completed. Regarding developments in care of premature neonates it is expected that the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity increases.
The aim of this study was to screen retinopathy of prematurity in 2 years survey of preterm inants in Tabriz Alzahra hospital.
Method and material: This is a descriptive study between 2005-2006.
All of the preterm infants with gestational age under 32 week or birth weight less than 1500gr and all neonates with birth weight of 1500_2500gr who had unstable condition during admition in hospital were included in this study and examined with an ophthalmologist for screening of retinopathy of prematurity.
Results: We screened 399 preterm infants from 2023 neonate who admitted in NICU. We found 29 neonates(7/27%) had retinopathy of pre maturity that 15 neonate healed with no intervention and 14 neonates received laser ablation therapy and one vitrectomy, and except one that who blind , all of these neonate has optimal level of vision. The plenty existed identified risk factors was oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation with ventilator, blood transfusion and surfactant therapy receive and mother's preeclampsia.
Conclusion:The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity is low in NICU of ALZAHRA hospital. Since the danger of this disease in pre mature neonates, routine screening is recommend in all NICUs. Control of risk factors and screening program can prevent long term complication.