Quinn GE et al. – This study described the characteristics of eyes at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and provided inputs on the types of ROP, which are most easily detected by image grading. A significant proportion of referral–warranted (RW) ROP (zone I and/or stage 3 ROP) was observed in both early and same eyes; whereas, the disease played a minor role. Findings were consistent with the clinical examination and/or image grading at the next session in most early RW–ROP eyes.

Methods

• Secondary analysis of eyes with RW–ROP (stage 3 ROP, zone I ROP, plus disease) on diagnostic examination from the Telemedicine Approaches to Evaluating Acute–Phase Retinopathy of Prematurity (e–ROP) study was conducted in premature infants with birth weights <1251 g in 13 neonatal units in North America (N = 1257).

Results

• After diagnosis, a total of 447 eyes had RW–ROP.
• Image grading detected RW–ROP earlier than diagnostic examination in 191 eyes by about 15 days and detected RW–ROP in 123 infants at the same time in 200 eyes.
• Most of the early eyes (153) interpreted as being RW–ROP positive on imaging evaluation were agreed with the examination findings.
• At the sessions in which RW–ROP first found on diagnosis, stage 3 or more in 123 infants, image diagnosis noted ROP earlier in 151 of 191 early eyes and 172 of 200 same eyes.
• Zone I ROP was detected in 57 of 191 early eyes versus 64 of 200 same eyes; the disease was noted in 30 of 191 early eyes and 45 of 200 same eyes.