Ophthalmic short- and long-term outcomes for premature infants: Results of an extended follow-up program in Saudi Arabia

PurposeStudy the ophthalmic morbidities for infants born prematurely at a Tertiary care center in Riyadh city.MethodsRetrospective, longitudinal cohort study at King Fahad Medical City for premature infants born at gestational age (GA) ⩽32 weeks or birth weight (BW) ⩽1500 g during the study period from January 1, 2007, until the end of December 2009 was conducted. Short term outcome was diagnosis with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and long-term outcome was ophthalmic findings at age 18–24 months.ResultsThe cumulative incidence of ROP was 30%. Infants diagnosed with ROP had a mean GA of 27 weeks (23–35 weeks) and mean BW of 907 g (530–1730 g). Risk factors other than GA and BW for ROP, identified in the predictive logistic regression model, were blood transfusion [odds ratio (OR) 1.27] and diagnosis with intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 2.90). Strabismus was identified in 14% of the study cohort. Diagnosis of hyperopia (spherical equivalent ⩾+0.75 D) was equal in both ROP and no-ROP groups (p = 0.56). Myopia (spherical equivalent ⩾−0.75 D) and astigmatism ⩾1.00 D were diagnosed more frequently in the ROP group (p < 0.0001 and 0.04, respectively).ConclusionsA higher incidence of ROP was observed in this cohort compared to some Saudi Arabian centers. It is recommended that the screening criteria be maintained and that the effects of further control of blood transfusion be assessed in a prospective study. The authors recommend an extra ophthalmic evaluation at the age of 18–24 months for all premature infants born with GA ⩽ 32 weeks.