Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative vascular disease affecting premature newborns and occurring during vessel development and maturation. ROP has been recognized as one of the most important causes of childhood blindness in developed countries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ROP, the rate of its progression to severe disease requiring treatment, and its relationship with risk factors in premature babies. The study enrolled 558 premature neonates who were hospitalized in Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and screened for ROP between January 2007 and December 2009. Data related to clinical findings were obtained from the patients’ records. ROP was detected in 278 (49.8%) babies. Of those, 203 (36.4%) did not need treatment for ROP and 75 (13.4%) underwent laser treatment. Early gestational age and low birth weight were statistically significant for development of ROP (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that both factors were independent parameters (p<0.001). However, no statistical significance was found for gender, delivery type, multiparity, or discharge weight. In conclusion, strategies for preventing blindness in premature babies with ROP are needed, especially for those carrying higher risk due to low birth weight and early gestational age. Further studies including wider series or of multicenter origin may provide more conclusive results.

Keywords: prematüre retinopatisi, risk faktörleri, tarama kriterleri.