RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY - WHERE TO SET SCREENING LIMITS - RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON 2 DANISH SURVEYS

If all cases of serious ROP are to be detected, followed, and possibly treated, and the entire natural history of ROP to be recognized, screening limits should be set at no lower than gestational age 32 weeks and/or birthweight 1,750 g. These recommendations are based on the experience gained from two Danish surveys: cases registered as visually impaired (compulsory), from the whole country, covering the birth years 1971-88 (n = 142), and an epidemiological study from a Danish county comprising 411 infants considered at risk in 1982-1987; 63 infants developed ROP, eventually resulting in blindness in 6 of them.