REGRESSED RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY AND ITS SEQUELAE IN CHILDREN AGED 5-10 YEARS

Regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its sequelae were studied in children born prematurely (< 1501 g birth weight and/or < 33 weeks gestational age) in Stockholm county during 1976-81. Through various searches of the records at the different eye departments and other sources in Stockholm county we found that 134 out of a total of 528 premature babies (25.4%) had needed ophthalmic care for different reasons. They were re-examined and reliable information on the fundus could be obtained for 105 of them. The frequency of regressed ROP was 45.5%. Severe forms with vitreoretinal scarring and retinal traction were seen in 9.7% of cases and moderate forms with pigmentary changes and/or vitreoretinal interphase changes in 35.8%. The sequelae of regressed ROP were mainly reduction of visual acuity and myopia. Children with a birth weight below 1000 g and a gestational age < 30 weeks presented the highest rate of regressed ROP (68.5% and 61.9%) and ocular abnormalities.