Scientists improve ROP screening approach

Scientists have described an improved screening approach for babies at risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Describing the method in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers highlighted that the method reduced the number of babies who needed to undergo invasive diagnostic examinations by nearly a third.

Slow weight gain is added to existing screening criteria as part of the approach.

The latest research reports on a prospective study involving 3981 premature babies at risk of developing ROP across 41 hospitals in the US and Canada.
The screening criteria used in the study correctly predicted all of the 219 type 1 ROP cases, while reducing the number of infants who required examinations by 36%.

The researchers recommend that the new screening criteria for ROP are incorporated into national guidelines. 

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