Unit-based evaluation of retinopathy of prematurity screening practices in Turkiye within the framework of current guidelines.

PURPOSE: To describe a unit-based experience with expanded retinopathy of prematurity screening criteria for infants born between 32 and 34 weeks' gestation, in relation to current national and international guidelines.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 425 preterm screened for ROP. Infants were divided into groups based on the presence or absence of ROP and the need for treatment. The population was further categorized by guideline periods (2016 vs. 2021) for a comparative analysis.

RESULTS

The mean birth weight of the cohort was 1560 g, and the mean gestational age was 31.3 weeks. Any stage of ROP was diagnosed in 21.2% of infants, with only 2.3% requiring treatment. No treatment-requiring ROP occurred in infants born at ≥30 weeks of gestation. Independent risk factors for ROP were BW < 1500 g (OR:7.29), patent ductus arteriosus (OR:2.17), and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR:3.89). The incidence of ROP decreased significantly over the study period.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support a more targeted screening approach in well-equipped, high-level NICUs, where local data suggests a lower risk of severe ROP in more mature infants. These results highlight the importance of unit-based monitoring and population-specific screening criteria to reduce unnecessary examinations while ensuring comprehensive coverage of high-risk infants.