Analysis of full-term neonatal eye disease screening results and trends from 2016 to 2023.

To analyze the results and trends of common eye diseases from full-term neonatal eye screenings conducted between 2016 and 2023. A retrospective study was conducted on 17,378 full-term neonates screened for eye diseases at CiXi Maternity&Child Health Care Hospital from January 2016 to December 2023. Statistical analysis and Joinpoint regression were used to assess trends in eye disease incidence, measured by the Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC). Among 17,378 full-term neonates, 5,986 (34.45%) had abnormal eye screening results: Retinal hemorrhage (3,274 cases, 18.84%), white spots (1,440 cases, 8.29%), exudates (943 cases, 5.43%), pigment abnormalities (437 cases, 2.51%), and lesions resembling Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR-like) (228 cases, 1.31%). Retinal hemorrhage (χ² = 1840.390, P = 0.000) and exudates (χ² = 10.488, P = 0.001) were more common in neonates born via vaginal delivery. From 2016 to 2023, the overall abnormality rate declined (AAPC = -6.9%, 95% CI: -12.1% to -1.5%, P = 0.0211). Trends included: Retinal hemorrhage (AAPC = -3.2%, 95% CI: -6.4% to 0.0%, P = 0.0499) and pigment abnormalities (AAPC = -25.4%, 95% CI: -42.8% to -3.0%, P = 0.0342). Other retinal abnormalities showed no significant trends (all P > 0.05). Eye disease due to fundus lesions From 2016 to 2023, The overall incidence of fundus lesions in full-term neonates showed a declining trend. Vaginal delivery is a risk factor for retinal hemorrhages and retinal exudation in full-term neonates. We found a strong association between cytomegalovirus infection and retinal exudation.