Retinopathy of Prematurity

Preventable cause of childhood visual disability

Risk factors

• Premature <32 weeks
• Birth weight <1500g
• Supplementary oxygen
• Placental abruption
• Twins
• Intraventricular haemorrhage
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Blood transfusion

Pathogenesis

• Normal complete vascularisation occurs by 40 weeks
• Biphasic theory: high ambient oxygen is toxic…