Does reducing light exposure decrease the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants?

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can result in significant morbidity in preterm infants. Light exposure has been suggested to be a contributing factor. OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was performed to determine whether reducing light exposure in the neonatal intensive care unit decreased the incidence of ROP in preterm infants. METHODS: The literature was reviewed using the methodology for systematic reviews recommended by the Consensus on Resuscitation Science, adapted from the American Heart Association's International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. RESULTS: Seven articles were reviewed. Six of the articles were neutral to the clinical question and one supported the clinical question. However, the latter study used retrospective controls and was conducted during the evolution of the classification system for ROP. There were no studies that opposed the clinical question. CONCLUSION: Decreasing ambient light exposure in neonatal intensive care units is not of benefit in reducing the incidence of ROP.